Skip to content

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 LAX79FUM25Accident · 1 fatalClosedN.American P-51D · Nsalton City, CAAug 21, 1979 · N332 · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA069Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310K · Cresaptown, MDAug 20, 1979 · N7060L · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA081Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Kunkletown, PAAug 19, 1979 · N49080 · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA080Accident · 1 fatalClosedRyan PT-22 · Pittstown, NJAug 19, 1979 · N99994 · Substantial damage NTSB MKC79FA050Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · St Anthony, NDAug 19, 1979 · N714HX · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA067Accident · 1 fatalClosedBenson R8M · Fayetteville, TNAug 19, 1979 · N86531 · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA079Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Mount Union, PAAug 18, 1979 · N6630H · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEP75Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Kenosha, WIAug 18, 1979 · N3016H · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA056Accident · 6 fatalClosedPiper PA-34 · Wendover, UTAug 17, 1979 · N32418 · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA055Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 47G3B1 · Rico, COAug 17, 1979 · N73963 · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FVG70Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comndr A-9B · Burney, CAAug 16, 1979 · N7919V · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA101Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna A185F · Westwego, LAAug 16, 1979 · N8245Q · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEC44Accident · 1 fatalClosedStitts SA-3A · Manchester, MIAug 16, 1979 · N19BC · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FYE43Accident · 1 fatalClosedZipper HH-1 · Everett, WAAug 15, 1979 · N2200Z · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA067Accident · 2 fatalClosedMaule M-5 · Mammoth Lakes, CAAug 15, 1979 · N9067E · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FRJ20Accident · 1 fatalClosedRockwell S-2R · Waterproof, LAAug 15, 1979 · N4251X · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA054Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Artesia, NMAug 15, 1979 · N83286 · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA048Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150J · Pleasant Hill, MOAug 14, 1979 · N60677 · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA047Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 195 · Ely, MNAug 14, 1979 · N9320A · Substantial damage NTSB CHI79FEP74Accident · 1 fatalClosedPitts Spcl S1S · Camp Douglas, WIAug 14, 1979 · N751BF · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA066Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Redlands, CAAug 13, 1979 · N7595Y · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA113Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Keystone, FLAug 12, 1979 · N2052W · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA112Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Canton, GAAug 12, 1979 · N6322R · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA065Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 305A · Hamilton City, CAAug 11, 1979 · N5191G · Destroyed NTSB FTW79DA100Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 206B · Morgan City, LAAug 11, 1979 · N5018F · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA074Accident · 3 fatalClosedBeech D55 · Flushing, NYAug 9, 1979 · N105AC · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEC40Accident · 1 fatalClosedLockheed 12A · Pontiac, MIAug 7, 1979 · N36P · Destroyed NTSB ANC79FA076Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 207A · Nikishki, AKAug 7, 1979 · N6469H · Substantial damage NTSB CHI79FEM33Accident · 2 fatalClosedBreezy FGC100 · Grand Haven, MIAug 5, 1979 · N219TC · 2 aircraft · Minor damage NTSB CHI79FA065Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech C-90 · Indianapolis, INAug 5, 1979 · N6040M · Destroyed NTSB ANC79FA077Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 206 · Ivan Slough, AKAug 5, 1979 · N734YS · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA049Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna T210M · Pistol Creek, IDAug 4, 1979 · N6286B · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA111Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150 · W Palm Beach, FLAug 4, 1979 · N5111G · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA046Accident · 7 fatalClosedMitsubishi MU-2B · Hays, KSAug 3, 1979 · N208MA · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA110Accident · 4 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA-5A · Orlando, FLAug 2, 1979 · N9789U · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA064Accident · 1 fatalField investigationClosedCessna 501 · Canton, OHthe pilot's failure to recognize the need for, and to take action to maintain, sufficient airspeed to prevent a stall into the ground during an attempted landing. The pilot also failed to recognize the need for timely and sufficient power application to…Aug 2, 1979 · N15NY · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FYA22Accident · 1 fatalClosedCallair A-9 · Mt.Home, IDAug 1, 1979 · N7205V · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA071Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Groton, CTJul 31, 1979 · N8602Y · Substantial damage NTSB CHI79FA063Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Spring Green, WIJul 29, 1979 · N20995 · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA067Accident · 1 fatalClosedLuscombe 8A · Clarion, PAJul 28, 1979 · N1159B · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA062Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150M · Peoria, ILJul 28, 1979 · N704NU · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEP61Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 177RG · Sheboygen, WIJul 27, 1979 · N7540V · Destroyed NTSB OAK79FA036Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 320A · Monterey, CAJul 26, 1979 · N3005R · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA043Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150F · Independence, IAJul 26, 1979 · N6879F · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA065Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Jenkins, KYJul 26, 1979 · N9138B · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA061Accident · 1 fatalClosedMooney M20C · Brocton, ILJul 26, 1979 · N6217U · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA048Accident · 2 fatalClosedGrum Amer AA-5A · Augusta, MTJul 24, 1979 · N9966U · Destroyed NTSB DCA79AA020Accident · 8 fatalClosedDehavilland DH-114 · St Croix, VIJul 24, 1979 · N575PR · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA108Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper J-3C65 · Ft.Pierce, FLJul 22, 1979 · N26147 · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FUA15Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Newport Beach, CAJul 22, 1979 · N732AR · Destroyed