Cub Crafters INC CC18-180 accident near Bethel, Alaska, June 11, 2024
On June 11, 2024 at about 4:30 am local time, a 2013 Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, registered N187CC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Bethel, Alaska (Bethel Airport). It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing which resulted in a ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 2024 · about 4:30 am local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Bethel, Alaska · Bethel Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, built 2013 · all CC18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N187CC · registry record · serial CC18-0060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he lost directional control after the tailwheel contacted the runway surface, resulting in a ground loop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing rear spar, left aileron, and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,996 hours in all; 744 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 4,882 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,083.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2023; 53.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360C1G (piston); 3,275 hours total
- Operator: U S Department of the Interior
The flight
- Departed from: ABE Bethel AK at 2:25 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19R, 6,400 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.66 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PABE
Weather report (METAR): PABE 110353Z 19006KT 10SM CLR 19/05 A2966 RMK AO2 SLP044 T01940050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of Fuselage, right wing, and empennage
Photograph 2 – Image of left wing and left aileron
Photograph 3 – Image of lower aft fuselage, empennage, and tailwheelThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on March 28, 2025. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N187CC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cub Crafters Inc CC18 51 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360C1G 8,560 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Lehigh Valley International · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Alaska 5,932 since 1982 · 825 in the last ten years
- Alaska 9,142 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ANC24LA050.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.