NTSB investigations, 1978

102 cases where the phase of flight was Uncontrolled descent.

Cases per year

19622026
NTSB investigations, 1978 per year, 1962–2026: 2,192 cases
1964101
1965119
1966119
1967125
1968142
1969127
1970125
1971136
1972135
1973117
1974103
197599
197692
1977118
1978102
197993
198085
198197
19823
19835
19846
198514
19865
19879
19893
19906
19917
19929
19936
19942
19955
19972
19985
19994
20007
20015
20024
20033
20044
20053
20064
20071
20085
20091
20103
20114
20122
20132
20155
20161
20181
20192
20211
20221
20244
20252
20261

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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 1978
    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 MIA79FA032Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech E33 · Arcadia, FLDec 26, 1978 · N1043A · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA022Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Springerville, AZDec 20, 1978 · N5734P · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA029Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Ada, OKDec 20, 1978 · N75819 · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA012Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Virginia, NEDec 18, 1978 · N4757S · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FRG09Accident · Serious injuriesClosedBell 47G-2 · Premont, TXDec 6, 1978 · N7732 · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA022Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Hempstead, TXDec 6, 1978 · N3436M · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FYP04Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna R172K · Dayton, WADec 1, 1978 · N736TH · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA024Accident · 1 fatalClosedGrumman AA-5B · Marianna, FLNov 30, 1978 · N28649 · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA023Accident · 1 fatalClosedSikorsky S55B · Hanceville, ALNov 29, 1978 · N8307 · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA006Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182C · Eureka, MONov 22, 1978 · N8485T · DestroyedNTSB MIA79FA015Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Ormond Beach, FLNov 20, 1978 · N733QV · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech H18 · Brownsville, TXNov 20, 1978 · N204CC · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA014Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 17-30 · Medford, ORNov 19, 1978 · N7320V · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA014Accident · 2 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA1-G · Kernville, CANov 12, 1978 · N9584U · DestroyedNTSB FTW79FA011Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 206B · Sabine Pass, TXNov 12, 1978 · N49755 · DestroyedNTSB OAK79FA010Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182A · Reno, NVNov 10, 1978 · N5895B · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA012Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 177B · Kimberly, ORNov 9, 1978 · N11606 · DestroyedNTSB IAD79FA010Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Melfa, VANov 8, 1978 · N1104X · DestroyedNTSB IAD79FA008Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310I · Portland, TNNov 7, 1978 · N8037M · DestroyedNTSB MKC79FA001Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech A23-24 · Lyndon, KSNov 5, 1978 · N6135N · DestroyedNTSB SEA79FA009Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna P210 · Toutle, WANov 2, 1978 · N3686P · DestroyedNTSB OAK79FA008Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna T-210L · Dayton, NVNov 1, 1978 · N777FT · DestroyedNTSB ANC79DA015Accident · 3 fatalClosedGrumman G-44A · Cordova, AKOct 31, 1978 · N444W · DestroyedNTSB LAX79FA010Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Mojave, CAOct 30, 1978 · N400EW · DestroyedNTSB CHI79FA011Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Ashton, ILOct 25, 1978 · N8666P · Substantial damageNTSB FTW79FA007Accident · 2 fatalClosedMooney M20E · Texarkana, TXOct 24, 1978 · N9093V · DestroyedNTSB DEN79FA005Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 65-80 · Torreon, NMOct 24, 1978 · N886G · DestroyedNTSB CHI79FA006Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Baraboo, WIOct 10, 1978 · N5696P · DestroyedNTSB FTW78FA085Accident · 7 fatalClosedAero Comdr 500 · Laredo, TXSep 23, 1978 · N6244B · DestroyedNTSB SEA78FA066Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Hall, MTSep 19, 1978 · N8359C · DestroyedNTSB ANC78FA082Accident · 1 fatalClosedAeronca 7EC · Fairbanks, AKSep 15, 1978 · N4739E · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FA066Accident · 1 fatalClosedBrantley B-2B · Brook, INSep 11, 1978 · N2284U · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA089Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150M · Millbury, MASep 9, 1978 · N9470U · DestroyedNTSB OAK78DA046Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Fort Ross, CASep 4, 1978 · N55002 · DestroyedNTSB NYC78FA085Accident · 2 fatalClosedMitsubishi MU-2P · Bedford, NHAug 28, 1978 · N765MA · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA067Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · St George, MNAug 26, 1978 · N43177 · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA060Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Edgerton, WYAug 14, 1978 · N40439 · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA062Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Brighton, MOAug 12, 1978 · N7245W · Substantial damageNTSB ANC78DA064Accident · Serious injuriesClosedDehavilland DHC-2 · Kenai, AKAug 11, 1978 · N5319G · Substantial damageNTSB SEA78FA053Accident · 1 fatalClosedStinson 108E · Enumclaw, WAAug 10, 1978 · N4122C · DestroyedNTSB DEN78FA056Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Carrizozo, NMAug 10, 1978 · N5338P · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FA053Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 177RG · Jefferson, OHAug 6, 1978 · N45369 · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FEI32Accident · 2 fatalClosedLockheed P38L · Whitehouse, OHAug 1, 1978 · N3005 · DestroyedNTSB OAK78FA039Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Petaluma, CAJul 23, 1978 · N2831M · DestroyedNTSB FTW78FA065Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 310B · Cameron, LAJul 20, 1978 · N5403A · DestroyedNTSB FTW78FA060Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Brownfield, TXJul 16, 1978 · N55469 · DestroyedNTSB MKC78FA055Accident · 6 fatalClosedBeech 60 · Faribault, MNJul 12, 1978 · N777HH · Substantial damageNTSB SEA78DA042Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 170A · Billings, MTJul 9, 1978 · N1780D · DestroyedNTSB CHI78FEX23Accident · 1 fatalClosedHunter Mong GH-1 · Roll, INJul 9, 1978 · N132H · DestroyedNTSB MIA78FA102Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 17-31A · Lake City, FLJul 4, 1978 · N8805V · Destroyed