# NTSB WPR25LA043: Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, N247CC, Lewiston, MT, November 14, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 14, 2024, 12:10 local (19:10 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, MT - Coordinates: 46.752853, -108.87664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7529&lon=-108.8766&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 195523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195523/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195523 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA043 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control in a gusting tailwind, which resulted in an impact with a tree. ## 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: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0563199), [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: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0563199), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during a downhill takeoff roll from a grass strip with a gusting right quartering tailwind, the airplane started to veer to the right. The pilot applied left rudder control, and the airplane started to veer to the left. As the airplane became airborne, the airplane drifted left of the airstrip and struck a tree. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard on terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off to the southeast with wind from 280° at 13 knots, gusting to 18 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N247CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N247CC), registered now, S/N CCK1865-0022, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHARLIE GUINN CCK-1865 - Registry model: [Charlie Guinn CCK-1865](https://openairdocs.org/model/charlie-guinn-cck-1865) (registry code 0563199) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Cubcrafter CC340](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cubcrafter-cc340) (registry code 18050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CCK1865-0022 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 230.4 - Engines: Cub Crafters CC340 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 9, 2023, 49 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Durfee Hills, runway 15, 1,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 22, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 297.3 total, 159.7 in this make and model, 240.1 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 7.7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 13 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: 19MT, 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 20241114016309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241114016309A), Nov 14, 2024: Charlie Guinn CCK-1865, Lewistown, MT, Substantial damage. During take-off from a mountain field, just after the landing gear came off the ground, the pilot lost control of the aircraft due to crosswinds and impacted a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195523. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18337136&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20043_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18024028&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.