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 FTW79FA028Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna T210N · Kingfisher, OKJul 22, 1979 · N5364A · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEV27Accident · 1 fatalClosedSmith BGL · Macomb, ILJul 22, 1979 · N69119 · Substantial damage NTSB NYC79FA063Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comdr 560A · Pavilion, NYJul 21, 1979 · N2748B · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA107Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Huntsville, ALJul 21, 1979 · N9181K · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FLQ21Accident · 2 fatalClosedGreat Lakes 2T-1A · Versailles, KYJul 21, 1979 · N3716F · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA051Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 177RG · Fairplay, COJul 21, 1979 · N8019G · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA059Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Pellston, MIJul 21, 1979 · N5809D · Destroyed NTSB OAK79DAMS7Accident · 2 fatalClosedDouglas DC-3 · Honolulu (Pacific Ocean)Jul 20, 1979 · N63250 · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA041Accident · 1 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA-1A · Versailles, MOJul 20, 1979 · N9355L · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA062Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Mesa, AZJul 20, 1979 · N6250D · Substantial damage NTSB FTW79FA097Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna A185F · Lafayette, LAJul 20, 1979 · N4616E · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEX33Accident · 1 fatalClosedTexas Heli OH-13 · Solitude, INJul 20, 1979 · N51847 · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FVA51Accident · 1 fatalClosedCallair A-9 · Shafter, CAJul 19, 1979 · N7224V · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEG20Accident · 1 fatalClosedWarmick BAT W3 · Miamitown, OHJul 18, 1979 · N1313Q · Substantial damage NTSB CHI79FEI33Accident · 1 fatalClosedPitts S1 · Warren, OHJul 17, 1979 · N2543 · Destroyed NTSB FTW79DA095Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150J · Crescent, OKJul 16, 1979 · N51008 · Destroyed NTSB NYC80FAMS1Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310 · Missing AircraftJul 15, 1979 · N181D · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA058Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Blng Springs, PAJul 15, 1979 · N2216G · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEM29Accident · 2 fatalClosedSmith Sport Aire · Elk Rapids, MIJul 15, 1979 · N6171U · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA046Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-38 · Bellevue, IDJul 14, 1979 · N9320T · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA057Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-18S · Shenley, PAJul 14, 1979 · N4399A · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA056Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 206B · Philadelphia, PAJul 14, 1979 · N1443W · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA049Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Albuquerque, NMJul 14, 1979 · N1695E · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB MKC79FA040Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 177 · Le Sueur, MNJul 13, 1979 · N3162T · Destroyed NTSB CHI80FA058Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech 35-33 · Wheeling, ILJul 12, 1979 · N306Z · Destroyed NTSB ANC79FA068Accident · 7 fatalClosedCessna 402B · Anchorage, AKJul 12, 1979 · N402TH · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA102Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 210M · Milton, FLJul 11, 1979 · N761ZX · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA060Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Burmuda Dunes, CAJul 11, 1979 · N15325 · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA094Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Little Rock, ARJul 11, 1979 · N5471H · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA101Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182E · Clearwater, FLJul 9, 1979 · N9262X · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FUJ92Accident · 1 fatalClosedPietenpol Aircam · Mesa, AZJul 8, 1979 · N3586 · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA059Accident · 4 fatalClosedFairchild C119L · Casa Grande, AZJul 8, 1979 · N1040E · Destroyed NTSB IAD80FA009Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna T210 · Highlands, NCJul 8, 1979 · N6916R · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA042Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Bremerton, WAJul 7, 1979 · N172KA · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA052Accident · 2 fatalClosedHughes 369HS · Hunter, NYJul 7, 1979 · N9062F · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FKQ14Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna A188B · Lyman, MSJul 7, 1979 · N4910R · Destroyed NTSB ANC79FA067Accident · 3 fatalClosedRallye 235GT · Kodiak, AKJul 7, 1979 · N302RA · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA043Accident · 2 fatalClosedAero Comdr 114 · Leavenworth, WAJul 6, 1979 · N5873N · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FHJ21Accident · 1 fatalClosedBell 47G-5 · Jamesport, NYJul 6, 1979 · N8593F · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA039Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 120 · Madison, SDJul 6, 1979 · N2777N · Destroyed NTSB FTW79DA093Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 140 · Basile, LAJul 6, 1979 · N1607V · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA048Accident · 2 fatalClosedLear Jet 25B · Pueblo, COJul 6, 1979 · N40BC · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FEK17Accident · 1 fatalClosedVariviggen Edgar · Columbus, OHJul 6, 1979 · N101JE · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA038Accident · 2 fatalClosedAeronca 7AC · Eveleth, MNJul 4, 1979 · N84906 · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA099Accident · 1 fatalClosedBellanca 14-193 · Ozark, ALJul 4, 1979 · N7644E · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA061Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Kitty Hawk, NCJul 4, 1979 · N20739 · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA057Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · St Charles, ILJul 4, 1979 · N3027Z · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA092Accident · 7 fatalClosedCessna 340 · Ashdown, ARJul 3, 1979 · N345B · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA056Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Taylor, WIJul 3, 1979 · N8341C · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA052Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Chenoa, ILJul 3, 1979 · N64168 · Destroyed