The failure law and fracture development characteristics of overlying strata in shallow coal seams are closely related to the safe mining of coal mines. In order to study the disturbance failure law of overlying strata and the development characteristics of water diversion fracture zone in shallow coal seam mining, taking 2-2 coal S1233 working face in the south of Ningtiaota mine field as the research object, through similar material simulation and numerical simulation methods, the failure law of overlying rock and the characteristics of fracture development are studied. Similar simulation experiments show that the initial pressure step distance of S1233 face is about 60m, the periodic pressure step distance is about 16m, the height of water diversion fracture zone is 165m, and the crack-mining ratio is 27.5. Numerical simulation experiment shows that the development process of the water-conducting fracture zone can be divided into four stages: gestation, occurrence and slow increase, sudden increase and stability. the water-conducting fracture zone finally develops to the surface, reaching 165m, and the fracture-mining ratio is 27.5.With reference to the measured results of boreholes in the north of Ningtiaota Coal Mine, it is comprehensively determined that the split mining ratio of 2-2 coal in the south wing is more than 27.5.The research results can provide guidance for mine water disaster prevention and water resources protection in shallow coal seam mining.