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Fatal NTSB investigations: Piper PA-31

22 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Piper PA-31. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Defining event

Finding

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Aircraft model

Cases per year

19682026

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Latest cases

Query with SQL

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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103103')) ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

duckdb -csv -c "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.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
    AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103103'))
  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.

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."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('7103103'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC

Run it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.

NTSB CEN17WA349Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationPiper PA31 · Caernarfon, Gwynedd, United KingdomOn June 9, 2017, at 1705 coordinated universal time, a Piper PA31, N250AC, impacted terrain during landing at Caernarfon Airport (EGCK), Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and fire. The pilot, who was the sole occupant,…Jun 9, 2017 · N250AC · Destroyed NTSB SEA02GA053Accident · 3 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-31 · Atlanta, IDThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight which resulted in the in-flight separation due to overload of the spar at the right wing root. Hypoxia was a factor.Mar 12, 2002 · N2336V · Substantial damage NTSB NYC98FA071Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-310 · Presque Isle, METhe pilot's failure to follow the published instrument approach procedure and his descent below the minimum descent altitude. Contributing factors were the night conditions, low ceilings, and fog.Mar 1, 1998 · N777HM · Destroyed NTSB DEN84FA303Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-31-310 · Paonia, COThe acft was flying at a very low alt over mountanous terrain. As the acft approached a crest of a ridge the acft started to buffet and then encountered a downslope wind condition. The combination of approaching a stall and encountering a downdraft forced the…Sep 28, 1984 · N7205L · Destroyed NTSB ATL83AA031Accident · 8 fatalFinal reportPiper PA-31-310 · Spencer, VAThe pilot filed an IFR clearance and took off on runway 30 after dark. At that time, the airport manager was in his living quarters, getting ready to eat his evening meal. He reported that from his position, the takeoff height looked normal. As the aircraft…Nov 14, 1982 · N3538R · Destroyed NTSB FTW81FA083Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Hammond, TXMay 1, 1981 · N3544J · Destroyed NTSB ATL80FA092Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Culpeper, VASep 10, 1980 · N6702L · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA005Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Uniontown, PAOct 9, 1979 · N9277Y · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA108Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Luling, LASep 20, 1979 · N27614 · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA001Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-31P · Lexington, KYOct 3, 1978 · N338J · Destroyed NTSB NYC77FA072Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Cheektowaga, NYJul 20, 1977 · N406CA · Destroyed NTSB OAK77FA025Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Oakland, CAMar 12, 1977 · N6616L · Destroyed NTSB NYC75AN003Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Chatsworth, GAJul 5, 1974 · N11HW · Substantial damage NTSB OAK74AP031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Novato, CAJan 11, 1974 · N6565L · Destroyed NTSB CHI73AC080Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Niles, MIMar 31, 1973 · N300X · Destroyed NTSB CHI73AC006Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Missing AircraftJul 21, 1972 · N212AD · Destroyed NTSB MIA72AM045Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Iuka, MSNov 17, 1971 · N780JM · Destroyed NTSB NYC72AN022Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Augusta, MEAug 19, 1971 · N595DE · Destroyed NTSB CHI71AC025Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-31A · Fort Wayne, INOct 20, 1970 · N6637L · Destroyed NTSB LAX70A0005Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Burbank, CAJul 18, 1969 · N9150Y · Destroyed NTSB FTW69A0052Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Jasper, TXFeb 5, 1969 · N440VC · Destroyed NTSB DIA68A0031Accident · 6 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Tobaccoville, NCJan 20, 1968 · N9098Y · Destroyed