# NTSB WPR23LA194: Cubcrafters CCX-2300, N668LD, Spanish Fork, UT, May 21, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 21, 2023, 12:38 local (18:38 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT · Top of a hangar KSPK - Coordinates: 40.145028, -111.66769 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1450&lon=-111.6677&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192213 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192213/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192213 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA194 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to attempt an unfamiliar takeoff technique, his failure to maintain pitch control during takeoff, and his subsequent decision to retract flaps at a low altitude, which resulted in a descent into a building. ## 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: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: recent experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 76 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05640XD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while attempting a “jump” takeoff, which he had only practiced with an instructor two years prior, the airplane assumed a nose high attitude and turned sharply to the left. The pilot pushed the stick forward and used rudder and ailerons to straighten the airplane, but his attempt to decrease the angle of attack was unsuccessful. He then retracted the flaps to “lower the nose,” and the airplane descended and impacted the top of a hangar, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and left and right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N668LD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N668LD), registered now, S/N CCX-2300-0055, built 2022 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CUBCRAFTERS CCX-2300 (NXCub) - Registry model: [Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300](https://openairdocs.org/model/jeffery-palmer-ccx-2300) (registry code 05640XD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-390 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-390-series) (registry code 41678, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCX-2300-0055 - Year built: 2022 - Airframe hours: 58.9 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-390-X263 (D3B6) 215 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, July 26, 2022, 51.1 hours before - Departed: KSPK, Spanish Fork, WA - Destination: U14, Nephi, UT - Airport: KSPK, Spanish Fork Municipal Airport/Woodhouse Field, runway 30, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, waiver time limited special; last flight review February 10, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 917 total, 36.3 in this make and model, 668.3 as pilot in command, 64.4 in the last 90 days, 15.8 in the last 30 days, 1.4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KSPK - METAR: METAR KSPK 211835Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/08 A3011 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 20230521005159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230521005159A), May 21, 2023: Jeffery Palmer CCX-2300, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted an in ground efect takeoff. The pilot stated that as the aircraft left the ground, the aircraft assumed a nose high attitiude which was not… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192213. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15797951&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA194%206120%20N668LD_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 429 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15798088&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pic%20WPR23LA194-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.