# NTSB CEN20CA116: Cub Crafters CC11-160, N78BK, Mack, CO, March 7, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2020, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Mack, CO - Coordinates: 39.264999, -108.950279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2650&lon=-108.9503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101055/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101055 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA116 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to reconnoiter the approach area in preparation for an off-airport landing on a sandbar, which necessitated an evasive maneuver to avoid wires and resulted in an unintentional landing in the river short of the sandbar and a subsequent nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [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. - [Approach: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was conducting an off-airport landing to a river sandbar when he noticed wires in his approach path. He pushed forward on the stick to lower the nose and avoid the wires; however, the airplane touched down in the river just short of the sand bar and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut. The pilot reported that the accident could have been avoided if he had reconnoitered the area for obstacles before beginning the approach. The pilot added that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was conducting an off-airport landing to a river sandbar when he noticed wires in his approach path. He pushed forward on the stick to lower the nose and avoid the wires; however, the airplane touched down in the river just short of the sand bar and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing strut. The pilot reported that the accident could have been avoided if he had reconnoitered the area for obstacles before beginning the approach. ## Aircraft - Registration: N78BK (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cub Crafters CC11-160 (100) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CC11-00222 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 305 - Engines: CUB CRAFTERS CC340 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Diamond M Aero Llc - Registered owner: Diamond M Aero Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 2019 - Departed: UT97, Moab, UT - Destination: Mack, CO - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,113 total, 72 in this make and model, 3,046 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KGJT, 21 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 20200307005649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200307005649A), Mar 7, 2020: Cubcrafters Inc CC11-160, Mack, CO, Substantial damage. Pilot was attempting to land on a sand bar in a river. An aircraft main landing gear wheel hit water and the aircraft flipped forward on its roof and tail… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101055. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482048&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.