Cub Crafters PA18 accident near Basin, Wyoming, December 7, 2016
On December 7, 2016 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2004 Cub Crafters PA18, registered N444GB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Basin, Wyoming. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertent aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 7, 2016 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Basin, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters PA18 150, built 2004 · all PA18s on the register
- Registration
- N444GB · no longer on the register · serial 9961CC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial-rated pilot and commercial pilot-rated crewmember were working with a ground crew in animal damage management. These flights typically begin with the surveillance, about 75 to 100 ft agl. Upon identifying a target, the airplane will descend to between 20 and 40 ft agl so that the crewmember can shoot the target. The ground crew lost contact with the airplane about 2 hours into the operation. The airplane wreckage was later located in steep, hilly terrain. Based upon the location of the wreckage and witness statements from the ground crew, it is likely that the airplane was conducting a low-altitude predator mitigation pass at the time of the accident. Damage to the airplane, witness marks at the accident site, and the position of the wreckage were consistent with the airplane impacting terrain in a nose-low attitude, consistent with an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with terrain. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. It is likely that, while maneuvering at a slow speed, the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,828 hours in all; 315 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
Other crew
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 28, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 241.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 2, 2016; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 241 hours total
- Operator: US Department Of Agriculture
The flight
- Departed from: KWRL Worland WY at 3:00 pm
- Destination: KWRL Worland WY
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 9°F (-13°C), dew point -2°F (-19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KGEY, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on April 3, 2018. 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 | Interview Summary Notes - Ground Crew | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Interview Summary Notes - Usda | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maps of the Accident Location | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Accident Report Photographs | PDF, 9 pages | 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.