Abstract. In this paper the elastic wave propagation method was used to observe the evolution of the failure form in composite multilayered plates with a circular hole. The measuring system based on two, surface-mounted piezoelectric (PZT) elements was applied. The sequential measurements of the elastic wave propagation during the fatigue test have been carried out. The Time of Flight (ToF) parameter defined as a time between guided wave excited by an actuator and the first wave captured by a sensor was introduced to observe the behavior of the defected structure. Monitoring of the (ToF) parameter during the fatigue test has been applied to estimate the state of the structure.