# NTSB WPR23LA101: Cub Crafters CC18-180, N127DT, Dallesport, WA, January 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 29, 2023, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Dallesport, WA · 15 miles E of KDLS
- Coordinates: 45.668, -120.8588 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6680&lon=-120.8588&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106658
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106658/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106658
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA101

## Probable cause

The flight instructor’s failure to see and avoid a channel marker during a step taxi in preparation for takeoff on the water.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Cub Crafters CC18-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2470003), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The flight instructor of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that, he was demonstrating to the student pilot a water landing and step taxi from the back seat. While in the step taxi and preparing to takeoff, the student alerted the flight instructor to a channel hazard marker directly in front of the airplane. The flight instructor was unable to respond before the left wing and left side float collided with the marker about a second later. The left wing and left side float separated from the fuselage resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N127DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N127DT-2024-09-14), registration cancelled 2024-09-14, S/N CC18-0051, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CUB CRAFTERS INC CC18-180 (CC18-0051)
- Registry model: [Cub Crafters CC18-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cub-crafters-cc18-180) (registry code 2470003) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-C4P](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-c4p) (registry code 42289, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CC18-0051
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 924
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-C4P 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: L-Bird LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 2, 2022, 16.6 hours before
- Departed: KDLS, Dallesport, WA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 4, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,751 total, 884.2 in this make and model, 2,661.6 as pilot in command, 92.1 in the last 90 days, 30.6 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.56 inHg
- Observed at: KDLS, 15 nm away
- METAR: METAR KDLS 292053Z AUTO 26006KT 10SM CLR M01/M12 A3056 RMK AO2 SLP353 T10061122 58004

## 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 20230129001389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230129001389A), Jan 29, 2023: Cub Crafters Inc CC18-180, Dallesport, WA, Destroyed. Pilot was conducting a step taxi in preperation for takeoff. During the taxi as the aicraft accelerated for takeoff, it struck a channel marker in the river.…

## Other investigations on N127DT (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 GAA18CA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA101), Jan 12, 2018: Cub Crafters CC18-180 (N127DT), Winnimucca, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and her use of excessive braking during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106658. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15170638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1%20WPR23LA101%20F_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15171425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photo%20WPR23LA101-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.