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Fatal NTSB investigations

180,658 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,636 accidents, the rest incidents and other occurrences. Each has NTSB’s narrative and, once the investigation is done, its probable cause; since 2008, its findings and sequence of events.

Defining event

Finding

Phase of flight

Aircraft model

Cases, newest first

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' 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'
  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'
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 LAX80FA096Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-34 · Redlands, CAMay 8, 1980 · N38598 · Destroyed NTSB MKC80FA034Accident · 1 fatalClosedPitts S2S · Olathe, KSMay 7, 1980 · N22EL · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FAMS3Accident · 4 fatalClosedGrum-Amer GA-7 · Corpus Christi, TXMay 7, 1980 · N710GA NTSB FTW80FA071Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182G · Pecos, TXMay 7, 1980 · N3218S · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA070Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Tulsa, OKMay 7, 1980 · N2970V · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA069Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 206L-1 · Gibson, LAMay 6, 1980 · N5017F · Destroyed NTSB DCA80AA017Accident · 2 fatalClosedLear Jet 23 · Richmond, VAMay 6, 1980 · N866JS · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA095Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 35-33 · Winslow, AZMay 5, 1980 · N134Y · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA060Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 337 · Atlanta, GAMay 4, 1980 · N6208F · Destroyed NTSB MIA80DA061Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · St.Thomas, VIMay 4, 1980 · N751R · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA094Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Lk Roosevelt, AZMay 4, 1980 · N45090 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FET18Accident · 1 fatalClosedPitts S-1S · Fort Wayne, INMay 4, 1980 · N75KS · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FEI15Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 175 · New Phila, OHMay 4, 1980 · N7018M · Substantial damage NTSB ANC80FA043Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 185F · Anchorage, AKMay 4, 1980 · N93130 · Destroyed NTSB MIA80DA059Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 206B · Malabar, FLMay 3, 1980 · N5004U · No damage NTSB LAX80FUJ53Accident · 1 fatalClosedRyan ST-3KR · Scottsdale, AZMay 3, 1980 · N60155 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA093Accident · 2 fatalClosedRobinson R22 · Rnch Palos Vrd, CAMay 3, 1980 · N9011M · Destroyed NTSB IAD80FA044Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Bethany, WVMay 3, 1980 · N19672 · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA038Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 177RG · Peterborough, NHMay 1, 1980 · N8030G · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FUJ52Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32R · Needles, CAMay 1, 1980 · N38352 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA091Accident · 8 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Bakersfield, CAApr 28, 1980 · N2546M · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FA027Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 177RG · Garberville, CAApr 27, 1980 · N2138Q · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA068Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 404 · New Orleans, LAApr 27, 1980 · N5237J · Substantial damage NTSB SEA80FYP20Accident · 1 fatalClosedPage RV-3 · Prosser, WAApr 26, 1980 · N8385 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX80FA090Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Newhall, CAApr 26, 1980 · N43987 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA089Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Cima, CAApr 26, 1980 · N12563 · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA067Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech S35 · Board Camp, ARApr 26, 1980 · N5814S · Destroyed NTSB LAX81FA088Accident · 1 fatalClosedMitsubishi MU-2B · Henderson, NVApr 23, 1980 · N307MA · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FA026Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172M · So.Lake Tahoe, CAApr 22, 1980 · N61952 · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA037Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Akron, NYApr 22, 1980 · N11875 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX80AA087Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 58 · Salinas, CAApr 22, 1980 · N28DW · Destroyed NTSB IAD80FA042Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Bowling Green, KYApr 22, 1980 · N32992 · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA056Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Alamo, GAApr 21, 1980 · N18648 · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FGM16Accident · 2 fatalClosedGlen-Co RAG-1 · Connoqunsg, PAApr 20, 1980 · N4963E · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA036Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Flushing, NYApr 20, 1980 · N89807 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA086Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Ngrapevine, CAApr 20, 1980 · N6674P · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA084Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 182P · Sn Luis Obspo, CAApr 20, 1980 · N9414M · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA083Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Solvang, CAApr 20, 1980 · N63780 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA082Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Volcanoville, CAApr 20, 1980 · N2211H · Destroyed NTSB LAX80DA081Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna A185E · Santa Paula, CAApr 20, 1980 · N4756Q · No damage NTSB IAD80FA040Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Falmouth, KYApr 20, 1980 · N8907J · Destroyed NTSB IAD80FA039Accident · 3 fatalClosedBalloon WKS AX-7 · Hurricane, WVApr 20, 1980 · N40452 · Substantial damage NTSB FTW80FRD24Accident · 2 fatalClosedChampion 7GCAA · Maurice, LAApr 20, 1980 · N2894G · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedForney F-1 · Ft.Collins, COApr 20, 1980 · N6133C · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FAMS4Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Missing AircraftApr 19, 1980 · N19593 · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA065Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150L · Pottsboro, TXApr 15, 1980 · N5408Q · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FA034Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Alhambra, ILApr 13, 1980 · N6405A · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA080Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Big Bear City, CAApr 12, 1980 · N41384 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA079Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Byron, CAApr 12, 1980 · N7816E · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FA025Accident · 3 fatalClosedDouglas DC-3C · Athol, IDApr 11, 1980 · N64490 · Destroyed