# NTSB ANC15TA003: Cub Crafters CC18-180, N537CC, Anchorage, AK, October 19, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: October 19, 2014, 15:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Anchorage, AK - Coordinates: 61.056388, -150.375839 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.0564&lon=-150.3758&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Aviation Services, Dept of the Interior, US Fish and Wildlife Service - NTSB case key (mKey): 90284 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15TA003 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90284/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90284 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15TA003 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while attempting to drag an off-airport landing site. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The commercial pilot was conducting a cross-country public aircraft flight. He stated that he was making a straight-in approach to the off-airport landing site that was wet and soft with the intention of dragging the landing surface. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly, settled back to the surface, and then veered left. Unable to correct for the veer, the pilot applied full power in an attempt to initiate a go-around, but the airplane impacted the elevated edge of a creek bank and then came to rest upright in the water, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, elevators, and rudder. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On October 19, 2014, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cub Crafters Inc., CC18-180 airplane, N537CC, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control, while attempting to drag an off-airport landing site near Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country public-use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1500, destined for Pincher Creek Cabin, an off-airport landing site, located within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Anchorage, AK. During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 22, the pilot stated that he was making a straight in approach to the off-airport landing site located at Pincher Creek with the intention of dragging the landing surface. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly settled back to the surface and veered to the left. Unable to correct for the veer the pilot applied full power in an attempt to initiate the go-around, but the airplane impacted the elevated edge of the creek bank and came to rest upright in the water, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, elevators, and rudder. He stated that the landing area was wet and soft in places with varying vegetation causing different forces to be enacted on the wheels, and felt he had simply lost directional control. A post-accident examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC, two other NSTB investigators and two aviation safety inspectors from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office revealed no mechanical irregularities that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was using a Garmin GPSMAP 495 portable global positioning system (GPS) receiver, capable of storing route-of-flight data. The unit was sent to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorders Division for examination. A NTSB electrical engineer was able to extract the GPS data for the accident flight, which included, in part, time, latitude, longitude, and GPS altitude. Groundspeed and course information were derived from the extracted parameters. A flight track map overlay, and tabular data corresponding to the accident flight are available in the public docket for this accident. The closest weather reporting facility is Anchorage Airport, Anchorage, AK about 20 miles northeast of the accident site. At 1553, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Anchorage, Alaska, reported: wind 340 degrees at 4 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; few clouds at 2,500 feet; broken clouds at 18,000 feet; temperature, 41 degrees F; dew point 26 degrees F; altimeter, 29.11 inHG. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N537CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N537CC), registered now, S/N CC18-0061, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CUB CRAFTERS INC CC18-180 - Registry model: [Cub Crafters CC18-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cub-crafters-cc18-180) (registry code 2470003) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CC18-0061 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 247.3 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - federal, Public use - Operator: US Fish and Wildlife Service - Registered owner: U S Department Of The Interior - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 2014 - Departed: PASX, Soldotna, AK - Destination: Anchorage, AK - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,246 total, 52 in this make and model, 2,149 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 18,000 ft broken - Temperature: 41 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.11 inHg - Observed at: PANC, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20141019022339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141019022339A), Oct 19, 2014: Cub Crafters Inc CC18-180, Chickaloon Flat, AK, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted to land by pincher creek public use cabin next to a landing site (west to north). Aircraft touched down with a tail low attitude. The aircraft… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90284. 1.1 MB in all. - GPS - Specialists Factual Report (4 Embedded Images) (item 1, .PDF, 295 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436230&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=GPS%20-%20Specialists%20Factual%20Report%20(4%20Embedded%20Images)-Master.PDF - Attachment 1 - GPS Specialists Factual Report (item 2, XLSX, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436231&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=Attachment%201%20-%20GPS%20Specialists%20Factual%20Report-Master - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 3, .PDF, 443 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436234&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 6, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436235&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Passenger (item 7, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436236&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Passenger-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436237&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- 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.