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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 SEA79FA037Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172N · Challis, IDMay 5, 1979 · C-GYVP · Substantial damage NTSB NYC79FA045Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech C-23 · Saltsburg, PAMay 5, 1979 · N6550R · Substantial damage NTSB LAX79FA049Accident · 5 fatalClosedBeech D-50 · Julian, CAMay 5, 1979 · N16MM · Destroyed NTSB IAD79FA048Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172A · Albany, KYMay 5, 1979 · N7687T · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FQD06Accident · 1 fatalClosedPitts S1 · Artesia, NMMay 5, 1979 · N54F · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA037Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Centennial, WYMay 4, 1979 · N3047V · Destroyed NTSB OAK79FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182P · Lodi, CAMay 3, 1979 · N6191F · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FA028Accident · 1 fatalClosedMaule M-4 · Bowman, NDMay 3, 1979 · N2078U · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA032Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · John Day, ORMay 1, 1979 · N7753F · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA033Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 182Q · Quilcene, WAApr 30, 1979 · N759EZ · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FYP15Accident · 1 fatalClosedCallair A-9 · Dayton, WAApr 29, 1979 · N8259H · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA078Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Lake Worth, FLApr 29, 1979 · N8440Y · Destroyed NTSB MKC79FCQ20Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-25 · Mayday, KSApr 28, 1979 · N7641Z · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA077Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-31 · Labelle, FLApr 28, 1979 · N6478L · Destroyed NTSB MIA79DA079Accident · 2 fatalClosedLockheed PV-1 · Guamtanamo (Atlantic Ocean)Apr 27, 1979 · N544B · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA04BAccident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Snowflake, AZApr 27, 1979 · N5694P · Substantial damage NTSB IAD79FA045Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Cynthiana, KYApr 27, 1979 · N39939 · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA048Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-31T · Elyria, OHApr 27, 1979 · N82282 · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA047Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172M · Gorman, CAApr 26, 1979 · N61882 · Substantial damage NTSB IAD79FA047Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182J · Hillsboro, VAApr 26, 1979 · N2738F · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FPJ12Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Purcell, OKApr 26, 1979 · N8530W · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA075Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Missing AircraftApr 24, 1979 · N7480J · Destroyed NTSB OAK79FA025Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna T210M · Tahoe City, CAApr 22, 1979 · N6721B · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA076Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 320E · Covington, LAApr 22, 1979 · N3482Q · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA042Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-18 · Lebanon, NHApr 21, 1979 · N2344J · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FKG33Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 150 · Hawkinsville, GAApr 21, 1979 · N66550 · No damage NTSB FTW79FA075Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-20 · Tulsa, OKApr 21, 1979 · N189N · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA040Accident · 1 fatalClosedLake LA-4 · Jonesboro, MEApr 20, 1979 · N7639L · Destroyed NTSB SEA79FA031Accident · 2 fatalClosedBell 214B-1 · Darby, MTApr 19, 1979 · N226RM · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FA039Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 152 · Stormville, NYApr 18, 1979 · N67451 · Substantial damage NTSB MIA79FA073Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Rich, MSApr 18, 1979 · N8758Y · Destroyed NTSB DCA79FA014Accident · 3 fatalClosedSikorsky S61-L · Newark, NJApr 18, 1979 · N618PA · Substantial damage NTSB CHI79FA046Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna 210 · Cable, WIApr 17, 1979 · N5157Q · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA045Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Veedersburg, INApr 17, 1979 · N1895T · 2 aircraft · Destroyed NTSB OAK79FA024Accident · 6 fatalClosedCessna T210L · Dunsmuir, CAApr 16, 1979 · N2253S · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA071Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 58 · Boca Ration, FLApr 15, 1979 · N20SB · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA044Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 170B · Big Bear City, CAApr 15, 1979 · N1409C · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA042Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 182K · Shoshone, CAApr 15, 1979 · N3078Q · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA041Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 182E · Glamis, CAApr 15, 1979 · N3265Y · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA040Accident · 1 fatalClosedGrumman G-21A · Catalina Is, CAApr 14, 1979 · N11CS · Destroyed NTSB LAX79DUG30Accident · 1 fatalClosedBarnett J-4 · Adelanto, CAApr 14, 1979 · N68093 · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA072Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 7GCBC · Crowell, TXApr 13, 1979 · N36338 · Destroyed NTSB CHI79FA044Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 150J · Waverly, OHApr 13, 1979 · N60759 · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA070Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech 56TC · Howey In Hills, FLApr 12, 1979 · N72571 · Destroyed NTSB DEN79FA036Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Carrizozo, NMApr 12, 1979 · N6309C · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA069Accident · 1 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA-5 · Marathon, FLApr 11, 1979 · N7373L · Destroyed NTSB FTW79FA068Accident · 3 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Bayside, TXApr 9, 1979 · N4782L · Destroyed NTSB MIA79FA068Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech V35B · Grove Hill, ALApr 8, 1979 · N21KK · Destroyed NTSB LAX79FA039Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · Jerome, AZApr 8, 1979 · N6601F · Destroyed NTSB NYC79FGM22Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Monroeville, PAApr 7, 1979 · N5720D · Destroyed