Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Helena, Montana
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
GAM AV LLC
Location: Belgrade, Montana
Accident Number: WPR22LA129
Date and Time: March 17, 2022, 13:30 Local
Registration: N424Y
Aircraft: CUBCRAFTERS INC CC11-160
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
Analysis
The pilot reported that, he planned a full stop landing at his ranch in the tailwheel equipped airplane. The landing spot was a ploughed, wet, and muddy field. He flew three low approaches to confirm the area was free of hazards. After touch down, he realized he had landed a little fast and long, but because the main landing gear and tailwheel were on the ground, he decided a go-around was not feasible. The airplane then struck a fence and came to rest on its nose substantially damaging the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilots misjudged landing approach, which resulted in a long landing and collision with a fence.
Findings
Aircraft Descent/approach/glide path - Not attained/maintained
Personnel issues Decision making/judgment - Pilot
Factual Information
History of Flight
Landing-landing roll Collision during takeoff/land (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Nose over/nose down
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 34, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 6, 2020
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 28, 2021
Flight Time: 1095.4 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5.7 hours (Total, this make and model), 891.1 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 37 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20.2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: CUBCRAFTERS INC
Registration: N424Y
Model/Series: CC11-160
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Special light-sport (Special)
Serial Number: CC11-00376
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 2, 2021 Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 32 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 197.2 Hrs as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: Titan CC340
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 180 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBZN,4431 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 7 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 13:56 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 176°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.13 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 6°C / -7°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Bozeman, MT (BZN)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Belgrade, MT
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 13:00 Local
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: Belgrade PVT
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 4640 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Rough; Slush covered; Soft; Standing water; Wet; Unknown
Runway Used:
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 45.899892,-111.17298
Central Valley Fire District -
Central Valley Fire District is on scene of a small aircraft crash off of Theisen Ranch Road.
No injuries reported.
Central Valley Fire District was called to Theisen Ranch Road at 1:48pm for a small aircraft crash.
Initial reports provided that the plane was airborne, clipped the fence, and crashed.
Fire units arrived on-scene at 2:06 pm and found a small aircraft with a slight fuel leak.
Both parties involved reported no injuries.
The scene was been turned over to Gallatin County Sheriff's Office and all Central Valley units returned to service.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas
June 09, 2021: Aircraft ground looped on landing and gear collapsed at Crystal Lake Airport (5M5), Decatur, Benton County, Arkansas.
Date: 09-JUN-21
Time: 17:36:00Z
Regis#: N424Y
Aircraft Make: CUB CRAFTERS
Aircraft Model: CC11
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: INSTRUCTION
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: DECATUR
State: ARKANSAS
DECATUR -- Two flight crew members narrowly escaped injury on June 9 when their single-engine aircraft made a hard landing at Crystal Lake Airport about 1:30 p.m., causing the airport to be shut down for almost two hours.
It is unclear whether it was an instructor and student or the plane's owner receiving a check-ride in the CubCrafters CC11-160.
According to local law enforcement officers on the scene, the incident occurred as the small single-engine aircraft was touching down on runway 13 at Crystal Lake Airport when the CubCrafters CC11-160, equipped with tundra tires, broke hard, causing the right landing gear to buckle underneath the underside of the front cockpit. After the aircraft lost lift, the right wing hit the ground, causing the plane to veer slightly to the right before it stopped on the right edge of the runway.
The owner of the aircraft had just purchased the CubCrafters CC11-160 a few days before the incident and had just taken possession of the plane after it was flown in from a dealer in Washington State on Tuesday.
Decatur Police secured the scene and airport officials were able to tow the damaged aircraft to a hangar on the southeast end of the airport.
The weather was not reported to be a factor in this incident. The names of the flight crew were not released at the time of the incident.
NOTE: Tundra tires are large 26-inch low-pressure tires that are used on aircraft flying in the backwoods of Alaska and Canada. These tires are capable of landing on grass airstrips, open fields where the conditions are unknown, river banks, and sand bars. The normal operating size for aircraft like the original Piper Cub is eight inches.
