Cub Crafters PA18 150 accident near Beggs, Oklahoma, March 21, 2018
On March 21, 2018 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 2004 Cub Crafters PA18 150, registered N226JK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Beggs, Oklahoma (Eagle Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to verify that the fuel selector was properly set before takeoff, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2018 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Beggs, Oklahoma · Eagle Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters PA18 150 NO SERIES, built 2004 · all PA18 150s on the register
- Registration
- N226JK · registry record · serial 9965CC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot stated that the takeoff was uneventful until the airplane reached about 50 ft above ground level and the engine experienced a total loss of power. The engine regained power momentarily, then lost power again. The pilot performed a forced landing during which the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that fuel selector may not have been secured in the "both" position detent at the time of the takeoff, and as a result, the engine may have lost power due to fuel starvation. A postrecovery examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,849 hours in all; 1,137 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,797 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 2, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 958.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 7, 2018; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 958 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 51OK Beggs OK at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 51OK Beggs OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from RVS, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 20, 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 | Summary of Airplane Examination | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Documentation | PDF, 2 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.