Carbon-Fiber Steer Tube Failure

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Unknown brand carbon-fiber fork failed at the crown/steer tube joint during a crash. On examination, the steer tube was also damaged in the stem clamp area — likely from before the crash, since clamp area damage is relatively common.

From http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=309950&id=113752518646087&ref=fbx_album as of 2010/09/06:

This fork was on a bike that hit a sign. Luckily the rider was not hurt. [The steer tube was] damaged at the stem clamp area by improper assembly (not shown in picture) so it needed replacing anyway.

Note that while a steel fork likely would have also failed, it more likely would have bent than snapped; and while the rider was not injured in this case, snapping is probably more likely to hurt the rider.

Details of the failure are unknown except the rider said the crash started when riding over railroad tracks.