# NTSB WPR20CA103: CubCrafters FX-3, N3XC, Sonoma/Schellville, CA, February 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 28, 2020, 12:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Sonoma/Schellville, CA - Coordinates: 38.220001, -122.449996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2200&lon=-122.4500&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA103 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA103 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent activation of the left brake during the landing roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control, a runway excursion, and collision with a ditch. ## 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: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056374V), [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: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056374V), [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: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056374V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a wheel landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane, he inadvertently applied left brake pressure, and the airplane veered off the edge of the runway into tall grass. The pilot's corrective action was ineffective, and the airplane subsequently impacted an irrigation ditch, which resulted in substantial damage to the nose and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during a wheel landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he inadvertently applied left brake pressure and the airplane veered off the edge of the runway into tall grass. Corrective action was ineffective and the airplane subsequently collided with an irrigation ditch, substantially damaging the nose and firewall. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3XC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3XC-2021-06-25), registration cancelled 2021-06-25, S/N CCX-2000-0042, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CubCrafters FX-3 - Registry model: [Hangar C-403 CCX-2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/hangar-c-403-ccx-2000) (registry code 056374V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Aerosport CC363I](https://openairdocs.org/engine/aerosport-cc363i) (registry code 01321, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCX-2000-0042 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 188 - Engines: Superior CC363i 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hangar C-403, LLC - Registered owner: Hangar C-403, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 22, 2020 - Departed: 0Q3, Sonoma/Schellville, CA - Destination: 0Q3, Sonoma/Schellville, CA - Airport: 0Q3, Sonoma Valley, runway 25, 2,700 × 45 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2019; seat: front; flight hours: 3,600 total, 86 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KO69, 7 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 20200228002039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200228002039A), Feb 28, 2020: Hangar C-403 LLC CCX-2000, Sonoma, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot was conducting pattern work at the Sonoma Valley Airport. Pilot was simulating short field landings. During the last landing attempt, pilot applied brake… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101052. 734 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 545 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481704&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Picture of Damage (item 2, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481705&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Picture%20of%20Damage-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.