Plain English Meaning

Part of the aircraft physically breaks while it is flying. This usually happens because the airframe was pushed beyond what it was built to handle.

Full Definition

The breakage, deformation, or separation of an aircraft's structural components — such as wings, tail, control surfaces, or fuselage — while the aircraft is airborne, typically caused by aerodynamic loads exceeding the airframe's design limits.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of spiral instability, high-speed descending turns, aircraft limitations, and loss-of-control scenarios.

Why Pilots Care

Leads to immediate loss of the aircraft and is the ultimate outcome to avoid when recovering from high-speed dives.