NTSB investigations, LA

41 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19642026
NTSB investigations, LA per year, 1964–2026: 41 cases
19642
19651
19661
19674
19682
19693
19701
19713
19721
19731
19741
19753
19763
19772
19782
19794
19802
19813
19871
20191

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\" = 'LA' 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 WPR19LA112Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Morganza, LAA loss of aircraft control due to the separation of the elevator pushrod attachment bolt.Apr 16, 2019 · N599LA · Substantial damageNTSB FTW87DRD06Accident · 1 fatalFinal reportAir Command 532 · St.Francisville, LAWitnesses observed the gyroplane flying at 10-15 feet AGL when it started a turn to the right. It continued the right turn and descended into the ground. Dr. Moore of the FAA sw regional flight surgeon's office stated that the plt had coronary disease and…Jun 28, 1987 · N532X · DestroyedNTSB FTW81FA132Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Mount Hermon, LAAug 16, 1981 · N304FW · DestroyedNTSB FTW81FA105Accident · 2 fatalClosedSwearingen SA226T · Cameron, LAJun 10, 1981 · N555AM · DestroyedNTSB FTW81FA090Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172A · Verda, LAMay 13, 1981 · N7232T · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA116Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Goodwill, LASep 17, 1980 · N1806T · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA100Accident · 13 fatalClosedBell 205A-1 · Houma, LAAug 6, 1980 · N95AL · DestroyedNTSB FTW80FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 65-90 · Leeville, LADec 22, 1979 · N724N · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA108Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Luling, LASep 20, 1979 · N27614 · DestroyedNTSB FTW79DA100Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 206B · Morgan City, LAAug 11, 1979 · N5018F · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA076Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 320E · Covington, LAApr 22, 1979 · N3482Q · DestroyedNTSB FTW78FA065Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 310B · Cameron, LAJul 20, 1978 · N5403A · DestroyedNTSB FTW78FA043Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 1121A · Flatwoods, LAApr 27, 1978 · N250UA · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA070Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech V35B · Ida, LAAug 18, 1977 · N1605W · DestroyedNTSB FTW77FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedBolkow BO105C · Morgan City, LAJan 6, 1977 · N200BB · Substantial damageNTSB FTW77FA008Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182L · Shaw, LAOct 23, 1976 · N42213 · DestroyedNTSB FTW76FRJ20Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 182P · Jones, LAApr 13, 1976 · N9110M · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF071Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Marksville, LAMar 12, 1976 · N5928R · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF018Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 17-31 · Larto, LASep 7, 1975 · N14713 · DestroyedNTSB FTW76AF031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Bernice, LAJul 21, 1975 · N3704W · DestroyedNTSB FTW75FRD31Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comdr 600S2R · Oberlin, LAFeb 21, 1975 · N4887X · DestroyedNTSB FTW75AF047Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Abbeville, LADec 31, 1974 · N8066T · DestroyedNTSB FTW74AF036Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Slidell, LANov 22, 1973 · N6629J · DestroyedNTSB FTW73AF009Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech F35 · Ruston, LASep 4, 1972 · N5048B · DestroyedNTSB FTW72AF009Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech D18S · Loreauville, LAAug 1, 1971 · N296RB · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF067Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 310L · Crowley, LAApr 1, 1971 · N13PS · DestroyedNTSB FTW71AF040Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Franklin, LAJan 17, 1971 · N8101C · DestroyedNTSB FTW71DRD29Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBell 206A · Leeville, LADec 14, 1970 · N7850S · Substantial damageNTSB FTW70F0296Accident · No injuriesClosedBell 206A · New Iberia, LAOct 31, 1969 · N4043G · Substantial damageNTSB FTW70A0003Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Sulphur, LAJul 22, 1969 · N3583A · DestroyedNTSB FTW69A0067Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeech S35 · Mansfield, LAMar 30, 1969 · N5736K · DestroyedNTSB FTW69A0046Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Oakdale, LADec 30, 1968 · N7702P · DestroyedNTSB FTW68A0083Accident · No injuriesClosedBell 47G-2A · Leeville, LAMar 30, 1968 · N74096 · Substantial damageNTSB FTW68A0066Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeech 95-B55 · New Orleans La, LADec 31, 1967 · N6139V · DestroyedNTSB FTW68A0045Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech V35 · Monroe, LAOct 16, 1967 · N506SW · DestroyedNTSB FTW68A0019Accident · 4 fatalClosedBell 206A · Morgan City, LAAug 15, 1967 · N7846S · DestroyedNTSB FTW67A0116Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech E35 · Crowley, LAMay 31, 1967 · N7372B · DestroyedNTSB FTW67A0036Accident · 1 fatalClosedLuscombe 8A · Holly Ridge, LASep 18, 1966 · N25380 · DestroyedNTSB FTW65A0104Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 120 · Plaquemine, LAApr 18, 1965 · N77380 · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X0704Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA24 · New Orleans, LAFeb 27, 1964 · N7871P · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X0687Accident · 58 fatalClosedDouglas DC-8 · New Orleans, LAFeb 25, 1964 · N8607 · Destroyed