# NTSB CEN21LA074: Zlin Savage Cub-S, N9111, Francis, OK, November 15, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 15, 2020, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Francis, OK · Sand bar on the Canadian River.
- Coordinates: 34.874694, -96.536437 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8747&lon=-96.5364&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Will Rogers FSDO, Air Accidents Investigation Institute
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102372
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA074
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102372/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102372
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA074

## Probable cause

The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for the landing, which resulted in a nose over when the airplane encountered soft sand during the landing roll.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0600099), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that he was landing on a sand bar near a river, where he had previously landed several times before. During the landing roll after traveling about 100 ft, the airplane encountered soft sand, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9111](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9111), registered now, S/N 260 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Zlin Aviation Savage Cub-S
- Registry model: [Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S](https://openairdocs.org/model/zlin-aviation-sro-savage-cub-s) (registry code 0600099) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 260
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 196.4
- Engines: Continental Aerospace Technologies Titan X340 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2020
- Departed: ADH, Ada, OK
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: None, Sand Bar - Canadian River
- Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 20, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 238 total, 101 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observed at: KADH, 8 nm away
- METAR: KADH 020615Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR 05/M05 A3008 RMK AO2

## 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 20201115021709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201115021709A), Nov 15, 2020: Zlin Aviation Sro SAVAGE CUB-S, Francis, OK, Substantial damage. The pilot intentionally landed on a sand bar. After landing he rolled out approximately 100 feet and then the main wheels dug into the sand and the aircraft…

## Other investigations on N9111 (1)

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.

- [NTSB WPR26LA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA134), Mar 20, 2026: Zlin Aviation Sro Savage CUB-S (N9111), Young, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during landing.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102372. 8.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11704691&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11704617&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.

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