NTSB investigations, IA

42 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19652026
NTSB investigations, IA per year, 1965–2026: 42 cases
19652
19664
19671
19682
19693
19703
19715
19723
19734
19742
19751
19771
19782
19791
19803
19815

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "WITH phase_names(main, name) AS (VALUES (100, 'Prior to flight'), (150, 'Standing'), (200, 'Pushback/towing'), (250, 'Taxi'), (300, 'Takeoff'), (350, 'Initial climb'), (400, 'Enroute'), (450, 'Maneuvering'), (500, 'Approach'), (550, 'Landing'), (600, 'Emergency descent'), (650, 'Uncontrolled descent'), (700, 'Post-impact'), (750, 'After landing'), (800, 'Other'), (990, 'Unknown')),
    crosswalk(code, main, name) AS (VALUES (500, 150, 'Standing'), (501, 150, 'Standing - pre-flight'), (502, 150, 'Standing - starting engine(s)'), (503, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) operating'), (504, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) not operating'), (505, 150, 'Standing - idling rotors'), (510, 250, 'Taxi'), (511, 200, 'Taxi - pushback/tow'), (512, 250, 'Taxi - to takeoff'), (513, 250, 'Taxi - from landing'), (514, 250, 'Taxi - aerial'), (520, 300, 'Takeoff'), (521, 300, 'Takeoff - roll/run'), (522, 350, 'Takeoff - initial climb'), (523, 300, 'Takeoff - aborted'), (530, 400, 'Climb'), (531, 400, 'Climb - to cruise'), (540, 400, 'Cruise'), (541, 400, 'Cruise - normal'), (542, 400, 'Maneuvering - holding (IFR)'), (550, 400, 'Descent'), (551, 400, 'Descent - normal'), (552, 600, 'Descent - emergency'), (553, 650, 'Descent - uncontrolled'), (560, 500, 'Approach'), (561, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - downwind'), (562, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base turn'), (563, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final'), (564, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - final approach'), (565, 500, 'Go-around (VFR)'), (566, 500, 'Approach - IAF to FAF/outer marker (IFR)'), (567, 500, 'Approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)'), (568, 500, 'Circling (IFR)'), (569, 500, 'Missed approach (IFR)'), (570, 550, 'Landing'), (571, 550, 'Landing - flare/touchdown'), (572, 550, 'Landing - roll'), (573, 550, 'Landing - aborted'), (574, 550, 'Emergency landing'), (575, 550, 'Emergency landing after takeoff'), (576, 600, 'Emergency descent/landing'), (580, 450, 'Maneuvering'), (581, 450, 'Maneuvering - aerial application'), (582, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction'), (583, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)'), (590, 450, 'Hover'), (591, 450, 'Hover - in ground effect'), (592, 450, 'Hover - out of ground effect'), (600, 800, 'Other'), (610, 990, 'Unknown')),
    current_codes AS (
      SELECT e.case_mkey, TRY_CAST(e.\"tier1Number\" AS INTEGER) AS code,
        row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY e.case_mkey ORDER BY coalesce(e.\"isDefiningEvent\", false) DESC, e.position) AS n
      FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e
      WHERE e.aircrafts_position = 1 AND e.\"tier1Number\" GLOB '[1-9][0-9]*'
        AND (e.\"isDefiningEvent\" OR e.case_mkey IN (SELECT \"mKey\" FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' WHERE \"isPre1982\"))
    ),
    phases AS (
      SELECT case_mkey, 'current' AS scheme, code, CASE WHEN code >= 990 THEN 990 ELSE code // 50 * 50 END AS main
      FROM current_codes WHERE n = 1
      UNION ALL
      SELECT o.case_mkey, 'older', o.\"phaseOfFlightCode\", w.main
      FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o JOIN crosswalk w ON w.code = o.\"phaseOfFlightCode\"
      WHERE o.aircrafts_position = 1 AND o.\"occurrenceNumber\" = 1 AND o.case_mkey NOT IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM current_codes)
    ),
    case_phases AS (
      SELECT p.*, c.\"eventDate\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal' AS fatal, a.aircraft_model_code
      FROM phases p JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c.\"mKey\" = p.case_mkey
      LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = p.case_mkey AND a.position = 1
      WHERE c.\"eventDate\" >= DATE '1962-01-01' AND p.main IN (SELECT main FROM phase_names)
    )
  SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"eventStateOrRegion\" = 'IA' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 650)
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB MKC82FA006Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Prairie City, IANov 24, 1981 · N737RM · DestroyedNTSB MKC82FA003Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182P · Essex, IAOct 30, 1981 · N9906E · DestroyedNTSB MKC81FA044Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Colo, IAJul 25, 1981 · N16328 · DestroyedNTSB MKC81FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Dixon, IAApr 8, 1981 · N47970 · DestroyedNTSB MKC81FA027Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Creston, IAApr 8, 1981 · N2250W · DestroyedNTSB MKC81FA005Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 207 · Cedar Rapids, IAOct 16, 1980 · N91026 · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA048Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Carroll, IAAug 9, 1980 · N47741 · DestroyedNTSB MKC80FA019Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Clare, IAJan 25, 1980 · N9421C · DestroyedNTSB UNK80X0102Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Melvin, IANov 11, 1979 · N2181D · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA034Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeech S-35 · Audubon, IAApr 29, 1978 · N7971K · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA020Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Tama, IAJan 15, 1978 · N6819B · DestroyedNTSB MKC77FA017Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Atkins, IAMar 19, 1977 · N2231S · DestroyedNTSB MKC75AK047Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Davenport, IAMar 5, 1975 · N9950T · DestroyedNTSB MKC74AK030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Beacon, IADec 12, 1974 · N5323B · DestroyedNTSB MKC75AK004Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Dubuque, IAJul 22, 1974 · N8020N · DestroyedNTSB MKC74AK022Accident · 2 fatalClosedMaule M4-220 · Independence, IANov 14, 1973 · N40320 · DestroyedNTSB MKC74AK013Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Council Bluf, IASep 28, 1973 · N5547P · DestroyedNTSB MKC73AK051Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 180H · Mt.Vernon, IAFeb 19, 1973 · N9058M · DestroyedNTSB DEN73AD030Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeech C90 · Blairstown, IAJan 3, 1973 · N936K · DestroyedNTSB MKC73AK038Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150D · Wellman, IANov 9, 1972 · N5913T · DestroyedNTSB MKC73DCD12Accident · No injuriesClosedBrantly B-2B · Marshalltown, IAAug 6, 1972 · N2161U · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK057Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech C35 · Alta, IAMar 26, 1972 · N5844C · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK041Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Davenport, IADec 25, 1971 · N7477J · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK038Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415C · Lake Mills, IADec 19, 1971 · N93703 · DestroyedNTSB MKC72FCD17Accident · Serious injuriesClosedTaylorcraft BL-65 · Ackley, IAAug 8, 1971 · N36214 · DestroyedNTSB MKC72FCD05Accident · No injuriesClosedBrantly B2B · Spencer, IAJul 9, 1971 · N2161U · Substantial damageNTSB MKC71AK046Accident · 1 fatalClosedChampion 8KCAB · Clinton, IAFeb 18, 1971 · N9020L · DestroyedNTSB UNK70X0113Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Mason City, IAAug 22, 1970 · N3714P · DestroyedNTSB MKC70AK071Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182G · Oelwein, IAJun 14, 1970 · N2391R · DestroyedNTSB MKC70AK067Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Newton, IAMay 31, 1970 · N1702J · DestroyedNTSB MKC70A0033Accident · 2 fatalClosedAlon A-2A · Clear Lake, IADec 15, 1969 · N5646F · DestroyedNTSB MKC70A0008Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172H · Newton, IAAug 31, 1969 · N3149X · DestroyedNTSB MKC69F0428Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-16 · Adel, IAMay 11, 1969 · N5710H · DestroyedNTSB MKC69A0027Accident · 1 fatalClosedAir-Space 18A · Marion, IAOct 20, 1968 · N6105S · DestroyedNTSB MKC69A0023Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Osceola, IAOct 13, 1968 · N9176W · DestroyedNTSB MKC68A0032Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Toledo, IAOct 27, 1967 · N93588 · DestroyedNTSB MKC67F0319Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-22 · Ames, IANov 26, 1966 · N1517P · DestroyedNTSB MKC67A0036Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172G · Elkhorn, IANov 23, 1966 · N4170L · DestroyedNTSB MKC67A0030Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Muscatine, IAOct 18, 1966 · N9108P · DestroyedNTSB MKC67A0014Accident · 2 fatalClosedWittman 11E · Glenwood, IAAug 21, 1966 · N211S · DestroyedNTSB MKC66A0030Accident · 2 fatalClosedUniversal GC-1B · Council Bluffs, IANov 6, 1965 · N3832K · DestroyedNTSB DEN66A0027Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150E · Newton, IAOct 14, 1965 · N8883S · Destroyed