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Fatality Reports

MSHA investigates each mining fatality and prepares the following documents to alert the mining community and prevent similar occurrences.

  • Fatality Alert - describes the accident and lists best practices that may have prevented it
  • Preliminary Report - initial report with brief description
  • Final Report - investigative findings, including root causes and enforcement actions

Some deaths on mining property are determined to be unrelated to mining activity and are not included in MSHA’s fatality statistics - See recent “non-chargeable” fatalities:
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: CCU Sexton Strip - Harrison, Ohio
Mine Controller: Charles C Ungurean
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Twilight Mtr Surface Mine - Boone, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Lexington Coal Company LLC
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Acosta Deep Mine - Somerset, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Quintana Capital Group GP Ltd
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Leer Mine - Taylor, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Oak Grove Mine - Jefferson, Alabama
Mine Controller: Alabama Kanu Holdings LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Mountaineer II Mine - Logan, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: West Elk Mine - Gunnison, Colorado
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Leer Mine - Taylor, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Arch Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Hazleton Shaft - Luzerne, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: American Anthracite SPV I, LLC
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Wyco Surface Mine - Wyoming, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Metinvest B V
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Buchanan Mine #1 - Buchanan, Virginia
Mine Controller: Coronado Coal LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Coal Mountain No 1 Surface - Wyoming, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Scott Kiscaden
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Ellangowan Bank #45 - Schuylkill, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Maria Cantwell; Bonnie R Ryan; Brian R Rich
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Anthracite)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Maple Springs Mine - Somerset Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: No 4 Mine - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Mine Controller: Warrior Met Coal Intermediate Holdco LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Drowning
Location: Mine No. 39 - Mcdowell, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Chargeback Date: 9/27/2023

On August 18, 2023, MSHA was informed of a miner’s death at Twin State Mining, Inc.’s Mine No. 39 in Elbert, WV.  MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical related issues as the cause of death.  However, on September 26, 2023, MSHA received the death certificate which states cause of death is drowning.  After further investigation and review, MSHA has decided that this death should be charged to the mining industry.

Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Advanced Restoration Technologies -1 - Morgan, KENTUCKY
Mine Controller: Gregory L Higgins; Gerald D DeRossett; Richard
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind
Location: San Miguel Lignite Mine - Atascosa, Texas
Mine Controller: North American Construction Group, LTD
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Lignite)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Bear Run Mine - Sullivan, Indiana
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Longview Mine - Barbour, West Virginia
Mine Controller: American Metals & Coal International Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: Mine No. 1 - Hamilton, Illinois
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Grapevine South Surface Mine - Mingo, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Appalachian Resource Company LLC
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: CO Poisoning
Location: Wellmore #8 Prep Plant - Buchanan, Virginia
Mine Controller: Metinvest B V
Mine Type: Facility
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Chargeback Date: 5/30/2023

On December 22, 2022MSHA was informed of a contractor’s death at Black Diamond Company’s Wellmore #8 Prep Plant in Big Rock, VA.  MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical related issues as the cause of death.  However, on March 31, 2023, MSHA received the death certificate and on April 12, 2023, MSHA received the autopsy report; both stated that the contractor died from carbon monoxide poisoning.  After further investigation and review, MSHA has decided that this death should be charged to the mining industry.

Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Acosta Deep Mine - Somerset, Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: Quintana Capital Group GP Ltd
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Electrical
Location: Coalburg Tunnel Mine - Kanawha, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Seven Energy AG
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: El Segundo - Mckinley, NEW MEXICO
Mine Controller: Peabody Energy
Mine Type: Surface
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Powered Haulage
Location: Tunnel Ridge Mine - Ohio, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Alliance Resource Partners LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Roof or Back
Location: D-29 Darby Fork - Harlan, Kentucky
Mine Controller: Industrial Minerals Group LLC
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall
Location: Maple Springs Mine - Somerset Pennsylvania
Mine Controller: JAZ Ventures LP
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)
Accident Classification: Machinery
Location: Berwind Deep Mine - Mcdowell, West Virginia
Mine Controller: Ramaco Resources Inc
Mine Type: Underground
Mined Material: Coal (Bituminous)