NTSB investigations, VA

25 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19662026
NTSB investigations, VA per year, 1966–2026: 25 cases
19661
19671
19682
19692
19702
19711
19721
19742
19752
19761
19773
19781
19791
19812
20011
20161
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\" = 'VA' 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 DCA19LA154Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAurora PAV · Manassas, VAa loss of hover lift thrust provided by the eight lift motors due to a false on-ground rotor speed reduction command, resulting from excessive vibration.Jun 4, 2019 · N83AU · Substantial damageNTSB ERA16FA194Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportJihlavan Airplanes Sro KP 5 ASA · Rhoadesville, VAThe pilots' loss of control that necessitated the activation of the parachute system and the airplane manufacturer's inadequate design of the front parachute anchor attachment structure, which resulted in a failure of the parachute after it was deployed in…May 24, 2016 · N440JM · DestroyedNTSB IAD01FA097Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna 150 · Mcgaheysville, VAThe flight instructor's failure to recover from a spin for undetermined reasons.Aug 14, 2001 · N63351 · Substantial damageNTSB ATL82AA019Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper Advcd PAT-1 · Mathews, VANov 19, 1981 · N15PT · DestroyedNTSB ATL82FA004Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Winchester, VAOct 6, 1981 · N8398N · DestroyedNTSB IAD80FA013Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Locust Grove, VANov 25, 1979 · N7650D · DestroyedNTSB IAD79FA010Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Melfa, VANov 8, 1978 · N1104X · DestroyedNTSB IAD78FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Reston, VANov 30, 1977 · N6241Y · DestroyedNTSB IAD77AA038Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech HS.125 · Mclean, VAApr 28, 1977 · N40PC · DestroyedNTSB IAD77FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35 · Boones Mill, VAMar 12, 1977 · N4459V · DestroyedNTSB IAD77FID08Accident · No injuriesClosedCessna 172 · Richmond, VADec 16, 1976 · N4291L · Substantial damageNTSB IAD76FIA08Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBellanca 7KCAB · Woodstock, VADec 24, 1975 · N53743 · DestroyedNTSB IAD75AI050Accident · 3 fatalClosedBell 206B · Wise, VAMar 8, 1975 · N370AF · DestroyedNTSB IAD74AI057Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Luray, VAApr 24, 1974 · N5507J · DestroyedNTSB IAD74AI041Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Samos, VAFeb 4, 1974 · N6927G · DestroyedNTSB NYC73DIJ02Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBell 47G-2A · Richlands, VAAug 19, 1972 · N8486E · Substantial damageNTSB IAD71AI053Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 177 · New Castle, VAMay 27, 1971 · N2271Y · DestroyedNTSB IAD71AI021Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172G · Providence Frg, VANov 1, 1970 · N3750L · DestroyedNTSB IAD70AI060Accident · 1 fatalClosedGlobe GC-1B · Blue Ridge, VAMay 16, 1970 · N80792 · DestroyedNTSB IAD70A0028Accident · 3 fatalClosedAero Comdr 1121 · Rural Retreat, VAOct 31, 1969 · N236JP · DestroyedNTSB IAD69A0053Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Emporia, VAApr 4, 1969 · N2072Y · DestroyedNTSB DIA69A0027Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Damascus, VANov 19, 1968 · N7141Y · DestroyedNTSB DIA69F0076Accident · No injuriesClosedHughes 269B · Alexandria, VAOct 1, 1968 · N9428F · DestroyedNTSB DIA67A0023Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Etlan, VAJun 22, 1967 · N4002Y · DestroyedNTSB DIA67A0001Accident · Minor injuriesClosedBrantly 305 · Manassas, VANov 23, 1966 · N2204U · Substantial damage