# Aircraft structures

- Type: NTSB finding subcategory
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › Aircraft structures
- NTSB code: 0103
- Cases: 652
- In the probable cause: 538
- Fatal cases: 209
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2008: 42 / 54
- 2009: 42 / 55
- 2010: 47 / 60
- 2011: 41 / 51
- 2012: 41 / 51
- 2013: 30 / 36
- 2014: 22 / 26
- 2015: 28 / 35
- 2016: 35 / 39
- 2017: 23 / 25
- 2018: 28 / 34
- 2019: 31 / 32
- 2020: 17 / 21
- 2021: 23 / 31
- 2022: 19 / 21
- 2023: 24 / 28
- 2024: 26 / 33
- 2025: 11 / 12
- 2026: 7 / 7

## Sections

- [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010357): 206 cases, 169 in the probable cause
- [Fuselage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010353): 125 cases, 96 in the probable cause
- [Doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010352): 112 cases, 100 in the probable cause
- [Empennage structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010355): 81 cases, 63 in the probable cause
- [Aircraft structures, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010300): 72 cases, 57 in the probable cause
- [Windows-windshield system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010356): 59 cases, 49 in the probable cause
- [Nacelles/pylons structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010354): 11 cases, 9 in the probable cause
- [Balloon/dirigible structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010351): 7 cases, 6 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 117 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 103 cases
- [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 68 cases
- [Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330): 54 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 44 cases
- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 39 cases
- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 24 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 20 cases
- [Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901): 18 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 13 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s): 7 cases
- [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n): 5 cases
- [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140): 5 cases
- [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-aircraft-works-spol-sro-sportcruiser): 5 cases
- [Eurocopter EC 130 B4](https://openairdocs.org/model/eurocopter-ec-130-b4): 4 cases
- [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161): 4 cases
- [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250): 4 cases
- [Piper PA-12](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-12): 4 cases
- [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b): 4 cases
- [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f): 4 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 161 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 72 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 54 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 51 cases
- [Incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015) (Personnel issues): 50 cases
- [Use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015) (Personnel issues): 39 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 38 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 33 cases
- [Preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510) (Personnel issues): 33 cases
- [Pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022) (Aircraft): 27 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB ERA26LA292](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA292), Aug 4, 2026: Extra Flugzeugproduktions-Und EA 300/LT (N330SB), Whitehouse, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to ensure the canopy was properly locked before flight, which resulted in the canopy opening during takeoff.
- [NTSB ERA26LA289](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA289), Jul 30, 2026: Beech A36 (N9144Q), Weston, CT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The in-flight opening of the engine cowling, which resulted in engine baffling separating from the airplane and impacting the right elevator.
- [NTSB WPR26LA203](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA203), May 23, 2026: Pzl-Swidnik PW-5 (N157AJ), Soap Lake, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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 CEN26LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA205), May 13, 2026: Vans RV4 (N292M), Conroe, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly latch the canopy before flight, which led to the canopy opening shortly after takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN26LA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA131), Feb 28, 2026: Quad City Challenger (UNREG), Van Burensburg, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: Propeller separation due to failure of the propeller attachment bolts.
- [NTSB DCA26LA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA142), Feb 27, 2026: Boeing 787 (JA873A), Houston, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The captain’s inadvertent activation of the takeoff/go around switch at touchdown that caused an increase in the airplane pitch attitude that was not corrected before the lower fuselage contacted the…
- [NTSB DCA26LA115](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA26LA115), Feb 9, 2026: Airbus A321-271NX (N2188J), San Francisco, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The first officer’s excessive aft sidestick input combined with decaying airspeed during initiation of a go-around, resulting in an increase in the airplane pitch attitude and subsequent lower…
- [NTSB ERA26LA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA085), Nov 26, 2025: Burkhart Grob Luft UND Raumfah G103 Twin Astir Trai (N103T), Brownsboro, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The flight instructor’s failure to properly lock the rear canopy prior to flight, which led to the canopy opening during aerotow at low altitude, and a subsequent off-airport landing in a corn field.
- [NTSB ERA25LA337](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA337), Sep 5, 2025: Larocca Roch B Eracer MK II (N382RB), Mount Pleasant, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the nose gear actuator bolt during the landing roll, which resulted in the collapse of the nose landing gear and subsequent runway excursion.
- [NTSB ANC25LA096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC25LA096), Aug 18, 2025: Cessna A185F (N9BB), Haines, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing area resulting in an on-ground collision with an obscured log and a main landing gear separation.

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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