# NTSB WPR11CA310: Cubcrafters CC11-160, N40WP, Whitefish, MT, July 5, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 5, 2011, 14:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Whitefish, MT - Coordinates: 48.404724, -114.300277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4047&lon=-114.3003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION - NTSB case key (mKey): 80998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA310 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of recent experience in a tailwheel equipped airplane. ## 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: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 31 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031045/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: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); 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 reported that he was on a personal flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane that he was planning on purchasing. Having not flown an airplane with a tailwheel in approximately 10 years, the pilot flew several low approaches over the grass runway. The pilot stated that during his fifth approach he still did not feel comfortable controlling the airplane, but was slow and close to the ground so he chose to attempt the landing. On landing, the airplane began to slide to the left at which point the pilot stated that he lost control of the airplane. Still in a slide, the airplane departed the runway, struck a barbed wire fence and nosed over. The rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was on a personal flight in a tailwheel equipped airplane that he was planning on purchasing. Having not flown an airplane with a tailwheel in approximately 10 years, the pilot flew several low approaches over the grass runway. The pilot stated that during his 5th approach he still did not feel comfortable controlling the airplane, but was slow and close to the ground so he chose to attempt the landing. On landing, the airplane began to slide to the left at which point the pilot stated that he lost control of the airplane. Still in a slide, the airplane departed the runway, struck a barbed wire fence, nosed over inverted and came to rest. The rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40WP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40WP), registered now, S/N CC11-00140, built 2010 (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: [Cubcrafter CC340](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cubcrafter-cc340) (registry code 18050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CC11-00140 - Airframe hours: 19 - Engines: Cub Crafter CC340 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alocin Ventures LLC - Registered owner: Alocin Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 2011, 1 hours before - Departed: KGPI, Kalispell, MT - Destination: 58S, Whitefish, MT - Airport: 58S, Whitefish, runway 29, 2,560 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 2,197 total, 1 in this make and model, 2,065 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 103° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KGPI, 6 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 20110705011929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110705011929A), Jul 5, 2011: Cubcrafters Inc CC11-160, Whitefish, MT, Substantial damage. On July 5, 2011, an aircraft registered to and piloted by [privacy data omitted] with a registration number N40WP Cubcrafters, inc.CC11-160, s/n CC11-00140… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 29, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80998. 401 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 335 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Airplane Nosed Over Inverted - Courtesy of Flathead County Sheriff's Department (item 2, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Airplane%20Nosed%20Over%20Inverted%20-%20%20Courtesy%20of%20Flathead%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Department-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.