# Aircraft structural failure

- Type: NTSB defining event
- NTSB code: 337
- CICTT category: System/Component Failure (Non-Powerplant)
- Defining event in: 181 cases
- In the sequence of: 290 cases
- Fatal cases: 86
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/cases.md
- Cases with it anywhere in the sequence: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337

## Cases per year (defining / in the sequence)

- 2008: 15 / 21
- 2009: 21 / 35
- 2010: 16 / 23
- 2011: 14 / 21
- 2012: 9 / 22
- 2013: 10 / 19
- 2014: 12 / 14
- 2015: 9 / 16
- 2016: 11 / 15
- 2017: 5 / 9
- 2018: 13 / 19
- 2019: 4 / 12
- 2020: 8 / 10
- 2021: 6 / 7
- 2022: 9 / 14
- 2023: 8 / 13
- 2024: 8 / 15
- 2025: 1 / 2
- 2026: 2 / 3

## Phase of flight

- Enroute-cruise: 28 cases
- Maneuvering: 25 cases
- Maneuvering-aerobatics: 18 cases
- Landing-landing roll: 15 cases
- Enroute: 15 cases
- Initial climb: 11 cases
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 10 cases
- Takeoff: 8 cases
- Approach: 7 cases
- Enroute-climb to cruise: 6 cases

## In the probable cause of these cases

- [Spar (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035711) (Aircraft): 20 cases
- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 18 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 18 cases
- [Wing structure, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700) (Aircraft): 16 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 15 cases
- [Attach fittings (on wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035740) (Aircraft): 11 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 10 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 9 cases
- [Installation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062035) (Personnel issues): 7 cases
- [Aircraft structures, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000) (Aircraft): 7 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 2 cases
- [Lockheed 382G-44K-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-382g-44k-30): 2 cases
- [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 2 cases
- [Boeing 737-3H4](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3h4): 2 cases
- [Boeing 737-3B7](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3b7): 2 cases
- [Beech G35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-g35): 2 cases
- [Beech 35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-35): 2 cases
- [Alisport SILENT 2 ELECTRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/alisport-silent-2-electro): 2 cases
- [Fisher Michael E CELEBRITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/fisher-michael-e-celebrity): 2 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA130), Feb 27, 2026: Textron 680A (N519QS), Miami, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the blast fence during taxi to the runway for departure, and their inadequate inspection of the airplane after it contacted the blast…
- [NTSB ERA26LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA118), Feb 19, 2026: Tecnam P2006T (N964GV), Homestead, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB ERA25MA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25MA171), Apr 10, 2025: Bell 206L-4 (N216MH), Jersey City, NJ, destroyed, 6 fatal, investigation ongoing
- [NTSB DCA25LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA061), Dec 18, 2024: Lockheed 382G-44K-30 (N403LC), St. Mary's, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fatigue failure of the forward pressure bulkhead canted web that originated from stress corrosion cracking areas. Contributing to the failure were inspection procedures and intervals inadequate…
- [NTSB DCA25WA048](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25WA048), Nov 27, 2024: Boeing 737 (C-GGWX), Montreal, Canada, substantial damage
- [NTSB DCA25LA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA25LA025), Oct 24, 2024: Boeing 737-9 (N27515), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Brake application before all three landing gears were on the ground, which caused the failure of the right main landing gear tires and resulted in tire fragments impacting the fuselage.
- [NTSB ENG24WA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ENG24WA036), Sep 9, 2024: Beech 200 (TF-NLA), Egedesminde, Greenland, substantial damage
- [NTSB ERA24LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA250), Jun 7, 2024: Piper PA28R (N287ND), Vero Beach, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Excessive side loading of the vertical stabilizer.
- [NTSB CEN24FA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA179), May 13, 2024: Piper PA46-500TP (N241PM), Marianna, AR, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA24LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA185), Apr 19, 2024: Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly (UNREG), Groveland, FL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper installation and inspection of the right lower wing strut attachment bolt, which resulted in the inflight failure of the right wing.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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