Cub Crafters CCK accident near Cookson, Oklahoma, June 3, 2013
On June 3, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cub Crafters CCK, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N319MA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Cookson, Oklahoma (Tenkiller Lake airport). It was a personal 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
A total loss of engine power due to water contamination in the fuel. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to check the fuel during the preflight, and failure to check the fuel storage tank’s fuel filter/water separator.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cookson, Oklahoma · Tenkiller Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters CCK, amateur-built
- Registration
- N319MA · registry record · serial CCK-1865-0019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power during the approach for landing and the restart attempt was unsuccessful. The pilot attempted to make a forced landing on a narrow gravel road. The left wing struck the top of a tree; the airplane spun around and impacted the ground. The wings received substantial damage. Post-accident examination revealed water in the fuel, in the carburetor, and in the storage supply tank. The pilot surmised that the water was likely due to recent heavy rain showers. He admitted he failed to check the fuel when he preflighted the airplane, and overlooked checking the fuel storage tank’s fuel filter/water separator.
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
- Fuel contamination during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during approach
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel storage › Not inspected
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 62 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, December 22, 2012; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,865 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cub Crafters CC340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 44M Cookson OK at 5:15 pm
- Destination: 44M Cookson OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 2,600 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from KTQH, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.