Former NTSB chairman Jim Burnett dies at 62 in his hometown in Ark., was appointed by Reagan

Former NTSB chief dies in hometown in Arkansas

CLINTON, Ark. — Jim Burnett, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board for six years, has died at the age of 62 in his hometown of Clinton, Ark.

Burnett was named to the NTSB in 1981 by then-President Ronald Reagan and served on the board until 1991. From 1982 to 1988, he was chairman of the panel.

Bobby Ray Bradford, manager of Roller-McNutt Funeral Home at Clinton, said Burnett died Saturday at Ozark Health Nursing Center of complications from diabetes.

Burnett was active in Republican Party affairs and had been a GOP national committeeman from Arkansas since 2004.

(This version CORRECTS Burnett’s term as chairman to 6 years.)