Cub Crafters CARBON CUB EX accident near Marion, Illinois, August 7, 2020
On August 7, 2020 at about 6:55 pm local time, a 2016 Cub Crafters CARBON CUB EX, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3737R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Marion, Illinois (Veterans Airport). 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 attain/maintain directional control during landing that resulted in a ground-loop and collision with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2020 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Illinois · Veterans Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters CARBON CUB EX, built 2016, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3737R · registry record · serial CCK-1865-0079
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during landing in the tailwheel equipped airplane, he performed two go-arounds after each approach for landing due to the wind upsetting his landing or the landing was not going to be smooth. During the third landing attempt, the approach felt more stable and within several seconds of landing touchdown, an aggressive ground loop to the left developed. The right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies 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
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 510 hours in all; 194 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 351 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 2, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 199 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 9, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,865 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Eci CC340 (piston); 140 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVN Mt Vernon IL at 6:15 pm
- Destination: MWA Marion IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,997 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 7:17 pm from MWA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.