Cub Crafters CC-18-180 accident near Yukon Charlie River, Alaska, November 9, 2021
On November 9, 2021, a 2013 Cub Crafters CC-18-180, registered N413CC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Yukon Charlie River, Alaska (Coal Creek airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s selection of an unsuitable landing site, which resulted in a nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2021
- Place
- Yukon Charlie River, Alaska · Coal Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters CC-18-180, built 2013 · all CC-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N413CC · registry record · serial CC18-0065
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had completed one high to mid-level reconnaissance flight over the snow-covered runway in his tundra tire tailwheel-equipped airplane. Before landing, he intended to fly a low pass and drag the main landing gear along the surface of the runway to determine the depth of the snow. As the main landing gear wheels touched down atop the snow, he stated it initially felt okay but also felt deeper than what he had anticipated. He applied full power and began to apply back stick pressure, but he felt the snow consistency change to a punchy feeling, and the airplane’s tail began to rise. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the rudder and right-wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during approach (VFR go-around)
- Abnormal runway contact during approach (VFR go-around)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Nose over/nose down defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Snow/slush/ice covered surface › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,274 hours in all; 975 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 2,105 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 29, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,388.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 1,394 hours total
- Operator: US Dept Of The Interior
The flight
- Departed from: PAEG Eagle AK at 10:49 pm
- Runway 01, 3,900 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PAEG, 59 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAEG 090053Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC060 M15/M18 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP161 T11501178 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 21, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Pictures | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N413CC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.