NTSB investigations
290 cases where the sequence of events included Aircraft structural failure.
Cases per year
| 2008 | 21 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 22 |
| 2013 | 19 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.\"tier2Number\" = '337' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE \"isDefiningEvent\")) 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 s.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s."tier2Number" = '337' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")) 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 WPR26LA203Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPzl-Swidnik PW-5 · Soap Lake, WAThe pilot’s failure to ensure the proper preflight assembly of the glider's wing attachment system, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing structure during flight.NTSB ERA26LA130Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTextron 680A · Miami, FLThe 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 fence.NTSB ERA26LA118Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedPreliminary reportTecnam P2006T · Homestead, FLOn February 19, 2026, about 0930 eastern standard time, a Tecnam P2006T, N964GV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Miami, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title…NTSB ERA25MA171Accident · 6 fatalClass 2 · MajorPreliminary reportBell 206L-4 · Jersey City, NJOn April 10, 2025, about 1515 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206L-4 helicopter, N216MH, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Jersey City, New Jersey. The pilot and five passengers were fatally injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title…NTSB WPR25LA101Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHughes OH-6A · Santa Teresa, NMThe flight instructor's failure to maintain helicopter control during a practice autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing and structural damage to the tail boom and subsequent failure of the tail rotor drive system.NTSB DCA25LA061Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportLockheed 382G-44K-30 · St. Mary's, AKThe 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 to identify the fatigue cracks.NTSB DCA25WA048Accident · No injuriesClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Montreal, CanadaNTSB DCA25LA025Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 737-9 · Houston, TXBrake 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 WPR24LA319Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBell 206L · Fern Prairie, WAAn aeroelastic interaction between the helicopter’s main rotor blades and nodal beam system, which resulted in oscillations that exceeded the design limits of the tailboom. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the main rotor blade manufacturer to…NTSB ENG24WA036AccidentClass 5 · ForeignBeech 200 · Egedesminde, GreenlandNTSB ANC24FA063Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 · Kekaha, HIAn encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an in-flight breakup.NTSB CEN24FA248Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRotorway Scorpion 133 · Andale, KSThe pilot’s abrupt control inputs, which resulted in a low-G condition, main rotor mast bumping, and subsequent severing of the tailboom by the main rotor blades.NTSB ERA24LA250Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA28R · Vero Beach, FLExcessive side loading of the vertical stabilizer.NTSB ERA24FA217Accident · 3 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBeech V35 · Franklin, TNThe pilot’s flight into convective weather, which resulted in a loss of control due to spatial disorientation and a subsequent inflight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of accurate weather intensity depiction on the…NTSB CEN24FA179Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA46-500TP · Marianna, ARThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.NTSB ERA24FA209Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRockwell International 690A · Palmyra, VAThe pilot’s loss of control following an encounter with structural icing, which resulted in an inflight breakup of the airplane.NTSB ERA24LA185Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBailey-Moyes Dragonfly · Groveland, FLThe 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 CEN24FA160Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA 46-350P · Hartsburg, MOThe pilot’s encounter with convective weather conditions, which resulted in a loss of airplane control, the exceedance of the airplane’s never exceed speed, and the resulting overload failure of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent failure of the…NTSB ERA24FA176Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-32R-301 · Knoxville, TNThe pilot’s decision to depart into an area of instrument meteorological and icing conditions, which resulted in loss of airplane control and a subsequent in-flight breakup.NTSB CEN24LA162Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAmerican Champion 7ECA · Longview, TXThe rudder post’s failure due to corrosion fatigue. Contributing to the accident were the misalignment of the rudder hinge components, which produced mechanical binding and elevated localized stress, and a compromised the protective coating, which allowed…NTSB ERA23FA380Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA28 · Whitesville, KYThe flight instructor’s improper decision to continue flight into a known area of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.NTSB CEN23LA405Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAlisport Silent 2 Electro · Giddings, TXThe glider’s encounter with flutter during cruise flight that resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.NTSB ERA23FA340Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA-28-161 · Fort Pierce, FLThe left seat instructor’s intentional maneuvering of the airplane in an aerobatic steep turn for which it was not approved, which resulted in an exceedance of the structural limitations of the airplane and an inflight breakup.NTSB WPR23LA317Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportPiper PA-24-260 · Fullerton, CAThe separation of the stabilator actuator from the stabilator tab, which resulted in pitch control surface flutter and structural damage.NTSB DCA23LA409AccidentClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 767-322 · Chantilly, VAImproper overhaul of the trunnion cross-pin hole that resulted in the development of stress corrosion cracking and eventual failure of the right forward trunnion.NTSB CEN23LA319Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAlisport Silent 2 Electro · Wallis, TXThe failure of the tail boom structure due to cyclic torsion overloading as of a result of flutter in the empennage. The reason for the flutter could not be determined.NTSB GAA23WA211Accident · 6 fatalClass 5 · ForeignCessna 210 · San Luis Gaceno, ColombiaNTSB WPR23LA255Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAvia Stroitel AC-5M · North Plains, ORThe pilot’s failure to maintain control of the motor glider, which resulted in an inflight overstress separation of the right wing during a high-speed, high-wing-load spiral dive recovery. Contributing to the accident was the inadequately manufactured wing…NTSB CEN23FA204Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportLuce Buttercup · Lyndonville, NYAn in-flight breakup due to structural overload of the airplane for undetermined reasons.NTSB ERA23FA219Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 182 · Reliance, TNThe pilot’s decision to continue an instrument flight into an area of forecast weather with severe to extreme turbulence associated with a line of thunderstorms, which resulted in an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s operation of the airplane in…NTSB ERA23FA209Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportCessna 177B · Watkinsville, GAThe pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent loss of airplane control, which resulted in an in-flight overload separation of the right wing during the uncontrolled descent.NTSB CEN23FA142Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportRobinson Helicopter R44 II · Port Allen, LAThe pilot’s decision to continue the visual flight rules flight into deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and the loss of aircraft control.NTSB WPR23LA128Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportJones Jay D Cassutt M 11 · Castroville, CAA failure of the outboard trailing edge rib in the left wing, which resulted in a separation of the left aileron and a loss of control.NTSB WPR23FA034Accident · 4 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportTextron 208B · Snohomish, WAThe pilot’s improper recovery following a departure from controlled flight after an intentional aerodynamic stall, which resulted in an exceedance of airspeed limitations, airframe overstress, and a subsequent inflight breakup.NTSB ANC23FA003Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAirborne Windsports Edge XT-912L · Mokuleia, HIStructural failure of the wing for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of control.NTSB ERA23FA007Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportSeamax M-22 · East Hampton, NYAn inflight separation of the right wing as a result of the manufacturer’s application of a bolt and nut in the upper wing strut attachment point that was inconsistent with the nut design intent and usage limitations.NTSB CEN22LA442Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedInvestigation openPiper PA-18 · Battle Creek, MINTSB WPR22FA345Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportPiper PA46 · Seligman, AZThe student pilot’s continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation, a loss of control, exceedance of the airplane’s design limitations, and in-flight breakup.NTSB DCA22WA136Incident · No injuriesClass 5 · Foreign737 800 · Dubrovnik, CroatiaNTSB ANC22LA040Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna U206F · Kodiak, AKThe failure of the right main landing gear leg due to fatigue cracks that initiated from corrosion pitting.NTSB WPR22LA183AccidentClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportPyka Pelican · Winters, CADelamination of the uncrewed aircraft systems’ right wing skin surfaces from the wing spar that resulted in a spin and impact with terrain.NTSB WPR22FA169Accident · 2 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportBearhawk LSA · Kalispell, MTAn excessive pitch control input for undetermined reasons while the airplane was operating above maneuvering speed, which led to a structural failure of the right wing during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the poor construction quality of the…NTSB ENG22WA024IncidentClass 5 · ForeignBoeing 737 · Queensland, AustraliaNTSB ERA22LA171Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Sparta, TNMaintenance personnel’s failure to properly affix left main landing gear components, which led to the failure of the left main landing gear during the accident flight.NTSB WPR22LA136Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDowner Bellanca 14-19-2 · Prosser, WAAn inadequately welded elevator attachment lug, which caused the elevator to partially detach from its bellcrank, resulting in flutter and structural damage.NTSB WPR22FA100Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportMoynihan Richard D Vans RV-7A · White Hills, AZThe pilot’s improper aerobatic maneuver leading to an airspeed that exceeded the airplane’s design limits, which resulted in rudder flutter and an in-flight breakup.NTSB ERA22LA123Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportBritten-Norman BN-2A-9 · Culebra, PRThe flight crew’s failure to arrest the descent rate during the non-standard approach, which resulted in a hard landing and failure of the right-wing structure. Contributing was the flight instructor’s selection of a challenging approach for initial training.NTSB DCA22LA038Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportBoeing 747-4B5F · Miami, FLIncorrect lubrication of the foreflap fitting assembly.NTSB CEN21LA420Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportQuad City Ultralight Challenger II · Rogers City, MIThe separation of the right wing’s forward lift strut from the fuselage due to a missing nylon-insert lock nut. Contributing to the accident was the noncertificated pilot’s decision to operate the airplane even though a condition inspection had not been…NTSB WPR21LA324Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportCessna 172 · Athol, IDThe failure of the windshield during spin recovery for reasons that were not determined.