# NTSB investigations, 2011: 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 ERA12FA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA115.md): Socata TBM 700 · Morristown, NJ · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 20, 2011 · N731CA · Destroyed > The airplane’s encounter with unforecasted severe icing conditions that were characterized by high ice accretion rates and the pilot's failure to use his command authority to depart the icing conditions in an expeditious manner, which resulted in a loss of… - [NTSB CEN12FA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA108.md): Piper PA-32-260 · Bryan, TX · Accident · 5 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 20, 2011 · N3590T · Substantial damage > The pilot’s inadvertent encounter with severe weather, which resulted in the airplane’s left wing failing in positive overload. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s reliance on outdated weather information that he received on his in-cockpit… - [NTSB CEN12FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA098.md): Socata TB21 · Silverton, CO · Accident · 4 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Dec 3, 2011 · N25153 · Substantial damage > The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to embark on a flight through forecasted instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), and his subsequent flight into IMC, which resulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and subsequent maneuvering of the airplane… - [NTSB WPR12MA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12MA034.md): Eurocopter EC 130 B4 · Pukoo, HI · Accident · 5 fatal · Major investigation · Final report · Nov 10, 2011 · N11QV · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain while operating in marginal weather conditions, which resulted in the impact of the horizontal stabilizer and lower forward portion of the fenestron with ground and/or vegetation and led to… - [NTSB ERA12FA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12FA018.md): Berger Michael A Waiex · Washington, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 22, 2011 · N75654 · Substantial damage > The in-flight failure of the aircraft’s Y-tail attachment structure during maneuvering flight due to overload. Contributing to the accident was, the kit manufacturer’s use of 14 CFR Part 23, Appendix A design guidelines intended for a conventional tail… - [NTSB CEN12FA001](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12FA001.md): Robinson Helicopter R66 · Philip, SD · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 1, 2011 · N266CY · Destroyed > The in-flight separation of the main rotor mast following a mast bumping event. The reason for the mast bumping event could not be determined due to postaccident damage. - [NTSB WPR11LA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA459.md): Mcarthur Steen Skybolt · Greenleaf, ID · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Sep 19, 2011 · N77VW · Substantial damage > Structural failure of the upper left wing during aerobatic flight. - [NTSB WPR11MA454](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11MA454.md): North American/Aero Classics P-51D · Reno, NV · Accident · 11 fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report · Sep 16, 2011 · N79111 · Substantial damage > The reduced stiffness of the elevator trim tab system that allowed aerodynamic flutter to occur at racing speeds. The reduced stiffness was a result of deteriorated locknut inserts that allowed the trim tab attachment screws to become loose and to initiate… - [NTSB ERA11FA431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11FA431.md): Beech G35 · Byron, GA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jul 31, 2011 · N156RP · Substantial damage > The pilot’s sustained flight at airspeeds in excess of the airplane's never exceed speed during a steep descent, which resulted in a subsequent in-flight structural failure due to overstress. - [NTSB ERA11LA415](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA415.md): Polaris Polar Star · Dewees Island, SC · Accident · 2 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 20, 2011 · UNREG · Substantial damage > The non-certificated pilot’s operation of the unregistered airplane while impaired by alcohol. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s performance of aerobatic maneuvers that exceeded the structural limits of the aircraft, which resulted in failure of… - [NTSB CEN11FA422](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA422.md): Robinson R22 Beta · Del Valle, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Jun 27, 2011 · N7779M · Substantial damage > The divergence of the main rotor from its normal plane of rotation for reasons that cannot be determined because the pilot’s control inputs leading up to the event are unknown, resulting in mast bumping and main rotor blade separation. - [NTSB WPR11LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA265.md): Aerovodochody L-29 Delfin · Reno, NV · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 18, 2011 · N37KF · Substantial damage > The failure of a modified engine mount to keep the engine properly aligned, which resulted in partial failure of the rudder support structure due to the deflection of the jet engine exhaust. - [NTSB CEN11LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA352.md): Aero Commander 100-180 · Athens, OH · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · May 21, 2011 · N4016X · Substantial damage > The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed in the flare which resulted in a stall and a hard landing. - [NTSB WPR11FA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA228.md): Bellanca 17-30A · Rock Springs, WY · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 18, 2011 · N93577 · Substantial damage > The pilot’s decision to continue flight into an area of known adverse weather, which resulted in an accumulation of structural ice that led to a loss of control and in-flight breakup. Also causal was the pilot’s inadequate preflight weather planning. - [NTSB WPR11FA225](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA225.md): P&M Pegasus Quik 912S · Hanalei, HI · Accident · 2 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · May 17, 2011 · N705PM · Substantial damage > The pilot's continued operation of the aircraft with deteriorated wing fabric and his aggressive maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in the right wing fabric’s failure during flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's loading of the aircraft… - [NTSB CEN11IA280](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11IA280.md): Beech 90B · Chickasha, OK · Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report · Apr 11, 2011 · N37OU · Minor damage > The mechanic's improper installation of the aileron. - [NTSB DCA11MA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11MA039.md): Boeing 737 · Yuma, AZ · Accident · Minor injuries · Major investigation · Final report · Apr 1, 2011 · N632SW · Substantial damage > the improper installation of the fuselage crown skin panel at the S-4L lap joint during the manufacturing process, which resulted in multiple site damage fatigue cracking and eventual failure of the lower skin panel. Contributing to the injuries was flight… - [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 WPR11FA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA155.md): Muse KR2 · Newberry Springs, CA · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 7, 2011 · N122B · Substantial damage > The airplane’s encounter with severe turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning. - [NTSB CEN11LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA209.md): Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · Kingsville, TX · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 26, 2011 · N6196L · Substantial damage > A pre-existing crack in the front spar of the right horizontal stabilizer near a riveted fitting, causing it to fail and separate from the airplane in flight. Contributing to the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel comply with existing service… - [NTSB ERA11LA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA141.md): Piper PA-31-350 · Baltimore, MD · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Feb 11, 2011 · N31NW · Substantial damage > An in-flight overload failure of the left elevator inboard balance weight rib 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 year(c."eventDate") = 2011 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?year=2011 --- 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.