Amateur-built SMITH SUPER CUB accident near Chisana, Alaska, September 8, 2025
On September 8, 2025 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2025 amateur-built SMITH SUPER CUB, registered N9930D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Chisana, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2025 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chisana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SMITH SUPER CUB, built 2025
- Registration
- N9930D · no longer on the register · serial JP001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing from a remote strip in his tailwheel-equipped airplane. He reported that, during the takeoff roll, the airplane encountered a strong crosswind from the left. The airplane veered to the right, and the pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder and aileron; however, the airplane departed the right side of the runway and impacted a rut in the river, which collapsed the left main landing gear; the left wing subsequently struck the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. 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 takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,420 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 2,420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 53 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 28, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AE10-360-B2F (piston); 53 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from PAGK, 86 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAGK 081953Z AUTO 15014G21KT 10SM CLR 12/08 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP112 T01170078 TSNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The 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 May 22, 2026. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 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.
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.