# NTSB investigations, FL: Aircraft structural failure

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA130.md): Textron 680A · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Feb 27, 2026 · N519QS · Substantial damage
  > 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 fence.
- [NTSB ERA26LA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA118.md): Tecnam P2006T · Homestead, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report · Feb 19, 2026 · N964GV · Substantial damage
  > On 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 ERA24LA250](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA250.md): Piper PA28R · Vero Beach, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 7, 2024 · N287ND · Substantial damage
  > Excessive side loading of the vertical stabilizer.
- [NTSB ERA24LA185](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA185.md): Bailey-Moyes Dragonfly · Groveland, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 19, 2024 · UNREG · Substantial damage
  > 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 ERA23FA340](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA340.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Fort Pierce, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 17, 2023 · N9855S · Destroyed
  > The 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 DCA22LA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA038.md): Boeing 747-4B5F · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 29, 2021 · N705CK · Substantial damage
  > Incorrect lubrication of the foreflap fitting assembly.
- [NTSB ERA20LA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA315.md): Vans RV9 · Steinhatchee, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 13, 2020 · N4889R · Destroyed
  > The failure of the air traffic controller to provide hazardous weather information to the pilot, resulting in the flight’s encounter with strong updraft conditions, an inflight loss of airplane control, and an in-flight breakup. Contributing was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB ERA19LA137](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA137.md): Pilatus PC12 · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 24, 2019 · N944BT · Substantial damage
  > Improper maintenance of the windshield, which resulted in delamination and in-flight depressurization.
- [NTSB ERA19LA072](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA072.md): Piper PA46 · Mayport, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Dec 20, 2018 · N307JM · Destroyed
  > An in-flight loss of control following an encounter with supercooled large droplet icing conditions, which ultimately resulted in an uncontrolled descent and subsequent inflight breakup. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate airspeed…
- [NTSB ERA19LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA050.md): Ultralite Sro Stingsport · Clermont, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Nov 17, 2018 · N494N · Substantial damage
  > An inflight failure of the airplane’s horizontal stabilizer.
- [NTSB ERA18FA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA120.md): Piper PA28R · Daytona Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 4, 2018 · N106ER · Destroyed
  > Extensive fatigue cracking in the left-wing main spar lower cap and doublers, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the left wing. The fatigue cracks initiated and grew to a critical size due to flight and ground loads associated with flight-training…
- [NTSB ERA18FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18FA064.md): Vans RV-12 · Bonita Springs, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jan 22, 2018 · N262WS · Destroyed
  > The pilot's unsafe maneuvering and exceedance of the airplane's operating limitations, which resulted in an in-flight failure of the left wing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's underlying physiologic or psychiatric disease.
- [NTSB ERA17FA145](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA145.md): Pipistrel Virus SW · Micanopy, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 4, 2017 · N155CL · Destroyed
  > The pilot's intentional flight into an area of known convective thunderstorm activity, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB ERA17FA038](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA038.md): Quad City Challenger · Crescent City, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 9, 2016 · N327SH · Destroyed
  > An abrupt pitch-up maneuver following a descent, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the right wing due to the overload failure of both the forward and aft right wing attachment brackets.
- [NTSB ERA16FA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16FA033.md): Zenith CH701 · Okeechobee, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Nov 6, 2015 · N56553 · Destroyed
  > An in-flight structural failure due to a severely corroded wing strut, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB ERA15LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA044.md): Itec Maverick · Dunnellon, FL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 21, 2014 · N356MV · Destroyed
  > A cell blowout in the fabric wing, which resulted in an asymmetrical loss of lift and a subsequent loss of aircraft control.
- [NTSB ERA13LA199](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA199.md): Maxfly Inc/Mckay WM Searey · Polk City, FL · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2013 · N914WM · Substantial damage
  > The improper installation of incorrect attachment hardware by maintenance personnel during an undocumented repair, which resulted in an in-flight structural failure and subsequent loss of aircraft control. Contributing to the accident was the covering of the…
- [NTSB ERA13LA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA198.md): Franke Russell J Searey · Polk City, FL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2013 · N92319 · Substantial damage
  > An inadvertent encounter with the water wake from a larger amphibious airplane before takeoff and the pilot's subsequent inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane during which he failed to note damage caused by the wake encounter.
- [NTSB ERA12LA537](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA537.md): Quad City Ultralights Challenger II · Ocala, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 30, 2012 · N2481P · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent overstress of the airplane, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the outer section of the right wing.
- [NTSB ERA12FA385](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA385.md): Pilatus PC-12/47 · Lake Wales, FL · Accident · 6 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 7, 2012 · N950KA · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the pilot to maintain control of the airplane while climbing to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) following disconnect of the autopilot. The reason for the autopilot disconnect could not be determined during…
- [NTSB ERA11GA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11GA066.md): Cessna M337B · Avon Park, FL · Accident · 3 fatal · Final report · Nov 18, 2010 · N1309 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadvertent encounter with an unexpected intense rain shower with severe turbulence at night.
- [NTSB DCA11FA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11FA004.md): Boeing 757-223 · Miami, FL · Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 27, 2010 · N626AA · Substantial damage
  > Fatigue failure of the fuselage crown skin due to incorrect manufacturing of the crown skin panel that resulted in a skin thickness less than the manufacturer-specified thickness.
- [NTSB ERA09LA502](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA502.md): M-Squared Sprint 1000 · Madeira Beach, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 5, 2009 · N185SQ · Substantial damage
  > A loss of torque to the gearbox engine-side coupling flange bolts, which resulted in separation of the gearbox and propeller from the engine and the subsequent severing of the airplane's tail structure.
- [NTSB ERA09LA392](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA392.md): Noles Vance L Vans RV7A · Sanderson, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 8, 2009 · N774US · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's continued visual flight into instrument meteorological conditions with convective activity and thunderstorms. Contributing to the accident was his failure to get an adequate weather briefing.
- [NTSB ERA09FA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09FA087.md): Ercoupe 415-D · Sebring, FL · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 13, 2008 · N99154 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's exceedance of the design stress limitations of the airplane.
- [NTSB NYC08FA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08FA158.md): Chech Aircraft Works Spol Sro CH 601 XL RTF · Polk City, FL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Apr 7, 2008 · N357DT · Substantial damage
  > The in-flight failure of the left wing for undetermined reasons.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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."eventStateOrRegion" = 'FL' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND 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
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence?state=FL

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