NTSB investigations, NM

38 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19642026
NTSB investigations, NM per year, 1964–2026: 38 cases
19641
19652
19661
19671
19684
19692
19701
19712
19721
19732
19745
19764
19774
19784
19801
19812
19851

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\" = 'NM' 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 DEN85FA125Accident · Serious injuriesField investigationFinal reportCessna 421C · Las Vegas, NMThe acft was landed in a pasture about 2 miles from the arpt after the acft began to descen 'behind the power curve' after takeoff. The plt said he used full power for takeoff but the takeoff was longer than normal. The da was computed to be 9286 ft. after…May 5, 1985 · N8343G · Substantial damageNTSB FTW82FA025Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Ruidoso, NMNov 27, 1981 · N43981 · DestroyedNTSB FTW81FA041Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeech A36TC · Nageezi, NMFeb 28, 1981 · N123AB · DestroyedNTSB DEN80FQA16Accident · Minor injuriesClosedCessna C172 · Ocate, NMJan 24, 1980 · N9878V · Substantial damageNTSB DEN79FA005Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 65-80 · Torreon, NMOct 24, 1978 · N886G · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA056Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Carrizozo, NMAug 10, 1978 · N5338P · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 320 · Gallup, NMMar 4, 1978 · N4108T · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA022Accident · 1 fatalClosedTaylorcraft BC12D · Albuquerque, NMFeb 5, 1978 · N43021 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN78FA007Accident · 2 fatalClosedStinson 108-2 · Hope, NMNov 13, 1977 · N178C · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA055Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech C-23 · Miami, NMAug 28, 1977 · N9756L · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FQA26Accident · Serious injuriesClosedPiper PA-28 · Las Vegas, NMMar 8, 1977 · N5122G · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA021Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Acomita, NMJan 21, 1977 · N7352V · DestroyedNTSB DEN77FA012Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Farmington, NMNov 26, 1976 · N4208F · DestroyedNTSB DEN76AD071Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Scholle, NMSep 10, 1976 · N8981W · DestroyedNTSB DEN76FQA41Accident · Serious injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Albuquerque, NMApr 19, 1976 · N6741A · Substantial damageNTSB DEN76AD039Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182 · San Ysidro, NMMar 6, 1976 · N5537B · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD033Accident · 3 fatalClosedMooney M20F · Watrous, NMDec 19, 1974 · N3890N · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD014Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Corona, NMSep 16, 1974 · N1585P · DestroyedNTSB DEN75AD005Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 170A · Bernardo, NMAug 25, 1974 · N5423C · DestroyedNTSB DEN74FQA43Accident · 1 fatalClosedBensen B-8M · Cerrillos, NMMay 11, 1974 · N24836 · DestroyedNTSB DEN74AD054Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182N · Lamy, NMApr 30, 1974 · N92494 · DestroyedNTSB DEN74AD022Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Roswell, NMNov 9, 1973 · N9001P · DestroyedNTSB DEN74AD014Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Artesia, NMOct 6, 1973 · N71227 · DestroyedNTSB DEN73AD019Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35 · Bloomfield, NMOct 29, 1972 · N3100V · DestroyedNTSB DEN72AD008Accident · 4 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Hachita, NMAug 28, 1971 · N7307V · DestroyedNTSB DEN71AD035Accident · 2 fatalClosedNavion A · Orogrande, NMFeb 21, 1971 · N8726H · DestroyedNTSB DEN71FQD13Accident · Serious injuriesClosedSquires Helico · Las Cruces, NMNov 11, 1970 · N2393 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN70A0030Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech V35 · Vaughn, NMOct 26, 1969 · N315LH · DestroyedNTSB DEN69A0032Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Dunlap, NMFeb 12, 1969 · N8969X · DestroyedNTSB DEN69A0015Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna T-210G · Estancia, NMOct 4, 1968 · N6846R · DestroyedNTSB DEN68A0051Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Laguna, NMApr 23, 1968 · N2744P · DestroyedNTSB DEN68A0048Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Gallup, NMApr 21, 1968 · N6348A · DestroyedNTSB DEN68F0201Accident · Serious injuriesClosedTaylorcraft BC12-D · Truth-Consq, NMJan 16, 1968 · N43819 · Substantial damageNTSB DEN67A0053Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech A35 · Ruidoso, NMMar 12, 1967 · N3251V · DestroyedNTSB DEN66A0055Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172D · Placitas, NMJan 15, 1966 · N8559X · DestroyedNTSB DEN66A0034Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182E · Santa Fe, NMNov 20, 1965 · N3081Y · DestroyedNTSB DEN65A0051Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA22 · Bernardo, NMJan 24, 1965 · N4436A · DestroyedNTSB UNK64X1388Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 195A · Grants, NMApr 19, 1964 · N82Q · Destroyed