# NTSB investigations, WA: 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 WPR26LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA203.md): Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 · Soap Lake, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · May 23, 2026 · N157AJ · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR24LA319](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA319.md): Bell 206L · Fern Prairie, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 26, 2024 · N9984K · Substantial damage
  > An 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 WPR23FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23FA034.md): Textron 208B · Snohomish, WA · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Nov 18, 2022 · N2069B · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR22LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA136.md): Downer Bellanca 14-19-2 · Prosser, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Mar 26, 2022 · N7658B · Substantial damage
  > An inadequately welded elevator attachment lug, which caused the elevator to partially detach from its bellcrank, resulting in flutter and structural damage.
- [NTSB WPR19LA171](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA171.md): Beech 35 · Deer Park, WA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · May 3, 2019 · N2839V · Substantial damage
  > An empennage flutter event for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
- [NTSB WPR14LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA179.md): Coulter Hugh Clarke Pulsar XP Series I · Bremerton, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 30, 2014 · N452PC · Substantial damage
  > Fatigue failure of the nose landing gear retention and pivot shaft, which resulted in the in-flight separation of the nose gear wheel and tire assembly.
- [NTSB WPR14LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA104.md): Simpson Amphibeous Trike/No · Chehalis, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jan 25, 2014 · N440LS · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the left wing prong.
- [NTSB WPR11LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA172.md): Beech G35 · Whidbey Island, WA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Mar 19, 2011 · N4211D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to prioritize flying over navigation due to his diverted attention, which allowed the airplane to near a restricted area, which, in turn, led the pilot to enter a rapid avoidance maneuver and subsequently lose airplane control.…
- [NTSB WPR09LA318](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA318.md): Alexander Schleicher ASW 27-18E · Ephrata, WA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 29, 2009 · N129TD · Substantial damage
  > The 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 LAX08LA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08LA253.md): Long Lancair ES · Cliffdell, WA · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2008 · N45EL · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while in cruise flight due to spatial disorientation. Contributing to the accident was turbulence and clouds.

## 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" = 'WA' 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=WA

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.