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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 NYC80FA021Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · East Machias, MEJan 22, 1980 · N3580Z · Destroyed NTSB IAD80FA021Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech E55 · Amherstdale, WVJan 22, 1980 · N39PG · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA019Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech B19 · Bogota, NJJan 19, 1980 · N1946W · Destroyed NTSB MKC80FA018Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Newton, KSJan 19, 1980 · N51274 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FUQ08Accident · 2 fatalClosedCulver LCA · Mojave, CAJan 19, 1980 · N41701 · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Kelton, VTJan 19, 1980 · N3351A · Substantial damage NTSB IAD80FA020Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · New Bern, NCJan 18, 1980 · N1376P · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FA016Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182Q · Murphy, IDJan 17, 1980 · N94839 · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA035Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Mesa, AZJan 16, 1980 · N49002 · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FA021Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310Q · Winthrop Hbr, ILJan 16, 1980 · N40AK · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA036Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna A152 · Lomax, TXJan 15, 1980 · N7393L · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA035Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35-33 · Mcalester, OKJan 14, 1980 · N620V · Destroyed NTSB ANC80FA023Accident · 7 fatalClosedCessna 185 · Shungnak, AKJan 14, 1980 · N1690Z · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA026Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech M35 · Leesburg, FLJan 13, 1980 · N9320Y · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA034Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna T207A · Santa Barbara, CAJan 13, 1980 · N73173 · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA025Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Tampa, FLJan 12, 1980 · N48956 · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FAMS2Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Missing AircraftJan 12, 1980 · N9388J · Substantial damage NTSB DEN80FA047Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Logan, UTJan 12, 1980 · N9388J · Substantial damage NTSB IAD80AA018Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 441 · Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean)Jan 11, 1980 · N441NC · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FA015Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Kalispell, MTJan 10, 1980 · N3839M · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA033Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Tulsa, OKJan 10, 1980 · N589RA · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA032Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 95-B55 · Duncan, OKJan 10, 1980 · N4643A · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA033Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech D18S · Honolulu, HIJan 8, 1980 · N641E · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Ft Worth, TXJan 8, 1980 · N2021P · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FUJ22Accident · 1 fatalClosedMidget Mustng · Parker, AZJan 6, 1980 · N288D · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FKQ02Accident · 1 fatalClosedErco 415-C · Mooreville, MSJan 5, 1980 · N87156 · Substantial damage NTSB LAX80FA032Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Coalinga, CAJan 3, 1980 · N4290L · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA030Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 206B · Montegut, LAJan 3, 1980 · N30TA · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA017Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Lindenhurst, NYDec 30, 1979 · N738WX · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FA020Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Royal Oak, MIDec 30, 1979 · N4512P · Destroyed NTSB SEA80FTA07Accident · 1 fatalClosedScorpion 133 · Nashua, MTDec 29, 1979 · NONE · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FA016Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Broad Brook, CTDec 28, 1979 · N16436 · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech B60 · Hayden, CODec 28, 1979 · N6030S · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FA019Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Kankakee, ILDec 28, 1979 · N7644J · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA015Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 421B · Eagle.Co, CODec 26, 1979 · N100RV · Destroyed NTSB MKC80FA017Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 175 · Shawnee, KSDec 23, 1979 · N7253M · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FA014Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Grand Lake, CODec 23, 1979 · N2013P · Substantial damage NTSB MKC80FA016Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150G · Anthony, KSDec 22, 1979 · N8409J · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA022Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech E18S · Orlando, FLDec 22, 1979 · N198B · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA031Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 8KCAB · San Fernando, CADec 22, 1979 · N5032K · Substantial damage NTSB FTW80FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 65-90 · Leeville, LADec 22, 1979 · N724N · Destroyed NTSB DEN80FA013Accident · 1 fatalClosedRockwell 500B · Santa Fe, NMDec 22, 1979 · N6194X · Destroyed NTSB MKC80FA015Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Olathe, KSDec 21, 1979 · N25494 · Destroyed NTSB MIA80FA021Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Woodbine, GADec 21, 1979 · N3802W · Destroyed NTSB MIA80DA023Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · Missing AircraftDec 21, 1979 · N1435P · Destroyed NTSB LAX80FA027Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Lebec, CADec 21, 1979 · N6714H · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA027Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172H · Moshiem, TXDec 21, 1979 · N1792F · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA026Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182E · Comfort, TXDec 21, 1979 · N2853Y · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA025Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182 · Story, ARDec 21, 1979 · N5393B · Destroyed NTSB FTW80FA024Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 421B · Locust Grove, ARDec 21, 1979 · N5428J · Destroyed