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Fatal NTSB investigations, 1972

180,611 investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board since 1962: 174,590 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 per year

19622026

Fatal NTSB investigations, 1972 per year, 1962–2026: 30,831 cases
1962	11
1963	13
1964	539
1965	560
1966	581
1967	625
1968	718
1969	655
1970	643
1971	664
1972	697
1973	731
1974	727
1975	692
1976	707
1977	713
1978	800
1979	691
1980	672
1981	705
1982	638
1983	651
1984	617
1985	555
1986	507
1987	496
1988	502
1989	484
1990	499
1991	482
1992	494
1993	437
1994	445
1995	456
1996	421
1997	402
1998	422
1999	404
2000	443
2001	412
2002	417
2003	440
2004	418
2005	428
2006	408
2007	387
2008	373
2009	359
2010	363
2011	398
2012	389
2013	344
2014	360
2015	365
2016	341
2017	338
2018	361
2019	381
2020	294
2021	321
2022	330
2023	295
2024	292
2025	275
2026	243

Where

Latest cases

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 year(c."eventDate") = 1972 AND 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 year(c.\"eventDate\") = 1972
    AND 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 year(c."eventDate") = 1972
  AND 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 SEA73AS017Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Portland, ORDec 31, 1972 · N2730P · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN094Accident · 5 fatalClosedDouglas DC-7CF · San Juan, PRDec 31, 1972 · N23N · Destroyed NTSB MIA73AM071Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 210D · Hollins, ALDec 31, 1972 · N3773Y · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN093Accident · 2 fatalClosedBellanca 14-132 · Blairs, VADec 30, 1972 · N132K · Destroyed NTSB MIA73FKG54Accident · 2 fatalClosedN. American F-51D · Flowery Branch, GADec 30, 1972 · N9149R · Destroyed NTSB MIA73FKA07Accident · 1 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA1 · San Juan, PRDec 30, 1972 · N6230L · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF033Accident · 4 fatalClosedBeech 65-80 · Kent, TXDec 29, 1972 · N9867 · Destroyed NTSB DCA73AZ005Accident · 99 fatalClosedLockheed 1011 · Miami, FLDec 29, 1972 · N310EA · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF034Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Octavia, OKDec 28, 1972 · N4899T · Destroyed NTSB DEN73AD029Accident · 7 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Kearney, NEDec 28, 1972 · N8915N · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN090Accident · 3 fatalClosedLockheed L1329 · Saranac Lake, NYDec 27, 1972 · N400M · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN089Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 170A · Turner, MEDec 27, 1972 · N1452D · Destroyed NTSB MKC73FCQ23Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeard-Parkr Mini · Benton, KSDec 26, 1972 · N6699 · Substantial damage NTSB MIA73AM068Accident · 1 fatalClosedMooney M20C · Ashland, ALDec 26, 1972 · N6386Q · Destroyed NTSB MIA73AM067Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 150H · Beechgrove, TNDec 25, 1972 · N22545 · Destroyed NTSB CHI73AC060Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Paragon, INDec 25, 1972 · N8885N · Destroyed NTSB NYC73FKM20Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 205A · Taylorsville, NCDec 24, 1972 · N8448Z · Destroyed NTSB OAK73AP018Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech C35 · Middletown, CADec 23, 1972 · N5937C · Destroyed NTSB MKC73AK046Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-32 · Great Bend, KSDec 23, 1972 · N5263S · Destroyed NTSB MKC73AK045Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-28R · St.Charles, MODec 22, 1972 · N7571J · Destroyed NTSB MKC73AK044Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 320E · Goodland, KSDec 22, 1972 · N2208Q · Destroyed NTSB OAK73AP017Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310 · Dublin, CADec 21, 1972 · N159R · Destroyed NTSB CHI73AC059Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech H18S · Bloominton, ILDec 21, 1972 · N800G · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN086Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-23 · New Boston, MIDec 20, 1972 · N6303Y · Destroyed NTSB MKC73FGC21Accident · 1 fatalClosedBeech T-34A · Wheeling, MODec 20, 1972 · N74020 · Substantial damage NTSB MKC73AKO43Accident · 5 fatalClosedCessna T210K · Eden Prarie, MNDec 20, 1972 · N8202M · Substantial damage NTSB MIA73FKT39Accident · 1 fatalClosedBoeing E75 · Clewiston, FLDec 20, 1972 · N1206M · Destroyed NTSB MIA73AMO64Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 310 · Shellman, GADec 20, 1972 · N2691C · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF032Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172F · Cleveland, TXDec 20, 1972 · N8589U · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF031Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Grand Prairie, TXDec 20, 1972 · N9677W · Destroyed NTSB DCA73AZ004Accident · 10 fatalClosedConvair 880 · Chicago, ILDec 20, 1972 · N8807E · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage NTSB NYC73AN091Accident · 2 fatalClosedBeech C35 · Malone, NYDec 19, 1972 · N5754K · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN088Accident · 2 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA-1A · Clermont, PADec 19, 1972 · N9409L · Substantial damage NTSB NYC73AN085Accident · 2 fatalClosedPiper PA-22 · Newsoms, VADec 19, 1972 · N183A · Substantial damage NTSB MKC73AK042Accident · 2 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Concordia, KSDec 19, 1972 · N46155 · Destroyed NTSB UNK73X0104Accident · 4 fatalClosedPiper PA-30 · Mrn Diablotin, DRDec 18, 1972 · N7769Y · Destroyed NTSB MKC73AK041Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172K · Dickinson, NDDec 18, 1972 · N84887 · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF030Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 210J · Bedford, TXDec 18, 1972 · N3319S · Destroyed NTSB FTW73AF029Accident · 1 fatalClosedHughes 369HS · Venice, LADec 18, 1972 · N9093F · Destroyed NTSB SEA73AS036Accident · 5 fatalClosedPiper PA-24 · Malad City, IDDec 17, 1972 · N5774P · Destroyed NTSB LAX73AL028Accident · 1 fatalClosedPiper PA-28 · Mexicali, MexicoDec 17, 1972 · N1256T · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN084Accident · 3 fatalClosedCessna 421 · Cheektowaga, NYDec 16, 1972 · N121X · Destroyed NTSB LAX73AL027Accident · 1 fatalClosedAmer Avco AA-1A · Pacoima, CADec 16, 1972 · N9358L · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN083Accident · 4 fatalClosedCessna 411 · Winooski, VTDec 15, 1972 · N111DS · Destroyed NTSB CHI73AC058Accident · 2 fatalClosedLear 23 · Romulus, MIDec 15, 1972 · N20M · Destroyed NTSB SEA73FYG21Accident · 2 fatalClosedSikorsky S-61A · Chelan, WADec 14, 1972 · N318Y · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN082Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 320D · Benton Hrbr, MIDec 14, 1972 · N9212U · Destroyed NTSB NYC73AN079Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172K · Bennington, VTDec 12, 1972 · N46717 · Destroyed NTSB MIA73AM073Accident · 1 fatalClosedCessna 172 · Biloxi, MSDec 12, 1972 · N8015B · Destroyed NTSB MIA73AM061Accident · 1 fatalClosedAero Comdr 560-E · Tupelo, MSDec 11, 1972 · N2690B · Destroyed