# NTSB investigations, 2021: 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 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 CEN21LA420](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA420.md): Quad City Ultralight Challenger II · Rogers City, MI · Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Sep 11, 2021 · N778H · Substantial damage
  > The 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 WPR21LA324](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA324.md): Cessna 172 · Athol, ID · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 7, 2021 · N4110L · Substantial damage
  > The failure of the windshield during spin recovery for reasons that were not determined.
- [NTSB CEN21FA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA360.md): Mooney M20M · Victoria, MN · Accident · 3 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 7, 2021 · N9156Z · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to spatial disorientation during final approach, which led to a spiral dive that overstressed the airplane and resulted in an in-flight breakup.
- [NTSB CEN21FA314](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA314.md): PZL Mielec M18 · Seiling, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 12, 2021 · N9310R · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s in-flight loss of control due to the structural failure of a wing fitting and separation of the outboard wing section. Also causal were the inadequate wing fitting inspections, which failed to detect the initial corrosion and crack before it…
- [NTSB WPR21FA266](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21FA266.md): Beech C90 · Wikieup, AZ · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 10, 2021 · N3688P · Destroyed
  > The failure and separation of the left wing’s outboard section due to a fatigue crack in the lower spar cap. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s decision to repair the wing spar instead of replacing it as recommended by the aircraft manufacturer.…
- [NTSB ANC21FA015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC21FA015.md): Cessna 185 · Chitina, AK · Accident · 2 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Feb 4, 2021 · N9725Z · Substantial damage
  > An in-flight breakup during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

## 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") = 2021
  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=2021

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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.
