# Aircraft structures, general

- Type: NTSB finding section
- Path: [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01) › [Aircraft structures](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0103) › Aircraft structures, general
- NTSB code: 010300
- Cases: 72
- In the probable cause: 57
- Fatal cases: 40
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010300/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010300/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/010300

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

- 2008: 4 / 6
- 2009: 4 / 7
- 2010: 0 / 1
- 2011: 1 / 2
- 2012: 8 / 9
- 2013: 6 / 6
- 2014: 1 / 1
- 2015: 4 / 4
- 2016: 3 / 4
- 2017: 3 / 3
- 2018: 3 / 4
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2021: 1 / 3
- 2022: 3 / 4
- 2023: 4 / 5
- 2024: 5 / 6
- 2025: 2 / 2
- 2026: 1 / 1

## Findings

- [Aircraft structures, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): 72 cases, 57 in the probable cause

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 15 cases
- [Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337): 10 cases
- [Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338): 9 cases
- [Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333): 4 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 3 cases
- [VFR encounter with IMC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/401): 3 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 3 cases
- [Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390): 2 cases
- [Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360): 2 cases
- [Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341): 2 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Piper PA-46-310P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-46-310p): 2 cases
- [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t): 2 cases
- [Cessna 421C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-421c): 2 cases
- [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b): 2 cases
- [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a): 1 cases
- [Socata TBM 700](https://openairdocs.org/model/socata-tbm-700): 1 cases
- [Short Bros SD-360-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-bros-sd-360-300): 1 cases
- [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R66](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r66): 1 cases
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 23 cases
- [Spatial disorientation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022025) (Personnel issues): 13 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 11 cases
- [Performance/control parameters, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000) (Aircraft): 10 cases
- [Thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010) (Environmental issues): 7 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 6 cases
- [Weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Not determined, general](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000) (Not determined): 4 cases
- [Dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020) (Environmental issues): 4 cases

## Newest cases

- [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 CEN25LA105](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA105), Feb 27, 2025: Robinson Helicopter R44 II (N6555C), Edgemont, SD, no damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly identify the proper anchor point for the supplemental harness and the crew’s incorrect use of the restraint system structure as an anchor point, which resulted in the…
- [NTSB CEN25LA090](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA090), Feb 1, 2025: Rutan Long-EZ (N88LE), Sparta, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: An onboard fire for unknown reasons.
- [NTSB CEN24LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA317), Aug 15, 2024: Vans RV8 (N184DC), Guthrie, OK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the separation and ingestion of an air filter retaining bracket into the engine cylinder.
- [NTSB CEN24LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA270), Jul 6, 2024: Cessna R172E (N23788), Hillrose, CO, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The binding of the left flap due to improper maintenance.
- [NTSB ERA24FA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA283), Jun 30, 2024: Piper PA46 (N85PG), Trout Creek, NY, destroyed, 5 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control in flight due to spatial disorientation during a climb to cruise altitude in instrument meteorological conditions and turbulence, which resulted in the in-flight…
- [NTSB WPR24LA122](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA122), Apr 4, 2024: Cessna 180A (N5281D), Nordman, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel's improper installation of the left main landing gear wheel assembly, which resulted in a loss of torque and subsequent separation of the wheel and axle assembly from the main…
- [NTSB ERA24LA109](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA109), Feb 1, 2024: Piper PA23 (N1317P), Louisville, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of maintenance personnel to thoroughly inspect and repair the worn-out panel fasteners and fastener holes.
- [NTSB ERA24LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA094), Jan 19, 2024: Cessna 208 (N1983X), Dulles, VA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot-in-command’s approach to the critical angle of attack during initial climb, which resulted in a vibration the flight crew improperly identified as an engine issue and resulted in the…
- [NTSB ERA23FA382](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23FA382), Sep 29, 2023: Smith William S Smith Cozy Mark IV (N95SF), Cullman, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control. Contributing to the…

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.

---
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.