# NTSB ERA20CA280: Cubcrafters CC11-160, N321C, Monongahela, PA, August 9, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2020, 14:43 local (18:43 UTC)
- Place: Monongahela, PA
- Coordinates: 40.210834, -79.828613 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2108&lon=-79.8286&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA280
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101764/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101764
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA280

## Probable cause

The pilot's premature application of brakes during landing, which resulted in a nose-over event.

## Findings

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

- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane was performing a wheel landing to the turf adjacent to an asphalt runway. Prior to the tailwheel contacting the ground, the pilot moved his toes to top the rudder pedals and inadvertently applied the brakes. The airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left-wing strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N321C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N321C), registered now, S/N CC11-00407 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CUBCRAFTERS INC CC11-160
- Registry model: [Cubcrafters CC11-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/cubcrafters-cc11-160) (registry code 060006N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Titan OX-340CC](https://openairdocs.org/engine/titan-ox-340cc) (registry code 59470, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CC11-00407
- Year built: 2016
- Airframe hours: 455.1
- Engines: Titan OX-340CC-B3J4 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, June 4, 2020
- Departed: 31D, Irwin, PA
- Destination: FWQ, Monongahela, PA
- Airport: FWQ, Rostraver
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,798 total, 101 in this make and model, 1,567 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KAGC, 10 nm away

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101764. 7.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10081245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20N321C_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 511 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10081254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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.

---
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.
