NTSB investigations
181 cases where the defining event was Aircraft structural failure.
Cases, newest first
Query with SQL
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 c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '337') 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 c."mKey" IN (SELECT e.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e."isDefiningEvent" AND e."tier2Number" = '337') 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 ENG09IA014Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 737 · Los Angeles, CAThe failure of the right main landing gear inboard axle due to fatigue cracking as a result of fretting damage in one of the brake mounting bolt holes.NTSB CEN09LA565Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBell UH-1B · Arvilla, NDThe aircraft owner/mechanic/pilot's installation of an improper tail boom assembly and the resulting fatigue failure of the tail boom's attach fittings.NTSB ERA09LA492Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportBond Neal O S-9 · Saylorsburg, PAThe pilot’s excessive flight control inputs that resulted in an overload failure of the right elevator and horizontal stabilizer.NTSB CEN09CA552Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 150F · Abilene, KSThe pilot's inadequate crosswind landing technique, resulting in an excessive side load on the left landing gear that led to an overload failure of its axle.NTSB ANC09LA083Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 185 · McCarthy, AKThe separation of the right main landing gear wheel from the airplane during landing for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an inability to control the airplane.NTSB WPR09FA391Accident · 3 fatalField investigationFinal reportNavion Navion A · Adrian, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight due to spatial disorientation, which resulted in an exceedence of the design stress limits of the aircraft and led to an in-flight structural failure.NTSB CEN09CA521Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportMaule M-4-220C · Abernathy, TXThe failure of the fuselage's tube structure due to corrosion during a hard landing.NTSB ENG09IA009Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 737-3B7 · Charlotte (CLT), NCThe failure of the left hand main landing gear was caused by heat induced cracks resulting from abusive grinding/polishing of the chrome plate that was applied during the last overhaul.NTSB DCA09FA065Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportBoeing 737 · Charleston, WVFuselage skin failure due to preexisting fatigue at a chemically milled step.NTSB WPR09LA318Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAlexander Schleicher ASW 27-18E · Ephrata, WAThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the glider during flight and his exceedance of the glider’s design limits during an attempted recovery from a spin.NTSB CEN09LA379Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportUrban Air Sro UFM-13 · Bourne Stage, TXThe pilot’s exceedance of the aircraft’s placarded never-exceed speed (Vne), resulting in aerodynamic flutter in the empennage and the subsequent in-flight structural failure of the aft portion of the fuselage.NTSB WPR09FA234Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportUpton Bakeng Duce · Ramona, CAAn in-flight separation of the right wing, which resulted from the pilot's performance of a maneuver that produced aerodynamic loads that exceeded the wing spar’s degraded strength. The wing spar strength degradation was due to the builder's failure to comply…NTSB ERA09FA273Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportExplorer Aeronautique Ecoflyer · Lebanon, NYThe in-flight separation of the left wing due to failure of one of the inboard attachments to the fuselage.NTSB CEN09CA268Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLuscombe 8 · Terrell, TXThe failure of the landing gear due to undetected corrosion.NTSB WPR09FA141Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportStephenson Zodiac 601 XL · Antelope Island, UTThe in-flight failure of both wings due to aileron flutter. The aileron flutter was the result of inadequate wing stiffness and the lack of aileron counterbalances.NTSB ERA09MA157Accident · 6 fatalMajor investigationFinal reportCessna 206H · Quebradillas, PRThe pilot exceeded the design limits of the airplane, which resulted in an in-flight break up while maneuvering in adverse weather conditions.NTSB ERA09FA087Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportErcoupe 415-D · Sebring, FLThe pilot's exceedance of the design stress limitations of the airplane.NTSB ERA09FA029Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-24 · Red Hill, VAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control due to an improper repair to the stabilator, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the stabilator. Contributing to the accident was the descent in turbulence, at airspeeds above the maximum structural…NTSB SEA08FA196Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportDebus J / Mountain S / Bowes E DEBUS-CASST-SNOSHOO · Reno, NVThe movement of the airplane’s modified horizontal stabilizer trim system during an intentional high speed aerobatic maneuver that resulted in exceedence of the design stress limits of the airplane and an in-flight structural failure. Contrubuting to the…NTSB NYC08FA260Accident · 2 fatalField investigationFinal reportPiper PA-23 · Highlands, NCThe pilot's improper decision to fly into an area of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the air traffic controller's failure to comply with FAA directives regarding issuance of precipitation location and…NTSB ENG08IA051Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 737 · Phoenix (PHX), AZThe failure of the MLG was due to cracking in the cylinder wall resulting from a fatigue mechanism which initiated at, and near the inner diameter (ID) surface, with propagation through the wall toward the outer diameter(OD) surface. Crack initiation was due…NTSB CHI08LA158Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportMaggs Lancair 4P · Alhambra, ILThe pilot's decision to continue the flight into an area of known thunderstorm activity and the in-flight structural failure of the airplane.NTSB ENG08IA025IncidentIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing MD-11 · Singapore, SingaporeThe Center Landing gear (CLG) strut failed due to intergranular (IG) cracking resulted from a contamination of the surface from the chemical used to clean that area prior to painting.NTSB SEA08LA110Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportCessna 180 · Blanding, UTThe fatigue failure of the right main landing gear leg during the landing roll.NTSB NYC08FA158Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportChech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF · Polk City, FLThe in-flight failure of the left wing for undetermined reasons.NTSB LAX08LA083Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportGulfstream-Schweizer G-164B · Genesee, IDThe in-flight failure of the rudder attachment point due to severe corrosion, which made directional control of the airplane not possible during landing.NTSB DCA08IA048Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal reportBoeing 757-200 · Richmond, VAThe installed wing panel clips failed due to fatigue, likely caused by the incorrect installation of the fasteners in response to SB 757-57-0027. Contributing to the incorrect installation was the SB's lack of clarity in the instructions and figures on the…NTSB DEN08LA064Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSpartan 7W · Santa Fe, NMFatigue failure of the right main landing gear, rendering directional control impossible and causing an overload failure of the left main landing gear.NTSB SEA08LA090Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDiamond Aircraft Industries DA 20-C1 · Spanish Fork, UTThe fatigue failure of the nose wheel fork assembly attachment stud/bolt during takeoff initial climb, and the collapse of the nose gear during landing.NTSB CHI08CA087Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportCessna 140 · Poplar Grove, ILThe left wing skin "fabric patch" separated from the wing ribs and spars for an undetermined reason.NTSB LAX08FA047Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportBeechcraft V35B · Selma, CAThe pilot's failure to maintain control resulting in the in-flight break-up of the airplane due to aerodynamic overload. Contributing factors included the pilot's impairment due to multiple medical conditions and due to recent use of alcohol.