Final NTSB investigations, ND

14 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19642026
Final NTSB investigations, ND per year, 1964–2026: 14 cases
19641
19671
19691
19701
19712
19721
19731
19762
19782
19791
19871

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\" = 'ND' AND c.\"eventCountry\" = 'USA'
    AND c.\"completionStatus\" = 'Completed'
    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 DEN88LA025Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHughes 269C · Grand Forks, NDThe CFI was instructing the pvt rated dual student in simulated forced landings. During the power recovery following a practice autorotation, the engine failed to regain RPM at full throttle. During the forced landing, the helicopter nosed over at touchdown…Nov 19, 1987 · N11079 · Substantial damageNTSB MKC79FTG04Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-18 · Goodrich, NDMar 9, 1979 · N9730P · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA033Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech A24R · Mandan, NDApr 17, 1978 · N8051R · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA028Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Belfield, NDMar 15, 1978 · N75089 · DestroyedNTSB MKC76AK077Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Mandan, NDAug 16, 1976 · N3783F · DestroyedNTSB MKC76AK059Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Dickinson, NDJun 8, 1976 · C-GOMA · DestroyedNTSB MKC74AK035Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeech 95-55 · New Salem, NDDec 24, 1973 · N9385Y · DestroyedNTSB MKC73AK023Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Lawton, NDSep 23, 1972 · N2900R · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK022Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Kenmare, NDSep 30, 1971 · N8946D · DestroyedNTSB MKC72AK018Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172B · Forbes, NDAug 30, 1971 · N7982X · DestroyedNTSB MKC71AK022Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 180 · Belden, NDOct 24, 1970 · N2338C · DestroyedNTSB MKC69A0051Accident · 1 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Jamestown, NDMar 2, 1969 · N9720M · DestroyedNTSB MKC68F0330Accident · Minor injuriesClosedChampion 7AC · Rugby, NDAug 20, 1967 · N84045 · Substantial damageNTSB UNK65X0525Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150A · Verona, NDNov 1, 1964 · N7069K · Destroyed