Zlin Aviation Savage Cub-S accident near Francis, Oklahoma, November 15, 2020
On November 15, 2020 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2015 Zlin Aviation Savage Cub-S, registered N9111, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Francis, Oklahoma (Sand Bar - Canadian River 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
The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for the landing, which resulted in a nose over when the airplane encountered soft sand during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 15, 2020 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Francis, Oklahoma · Sand Bar - Canadian River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Zlin Aviation Savage Cub-S, built 2015
- Registration
- N9111 · registry record · serial 260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he was landing on a sand bar near a river, where he had previously landed several times before. During the landing roll after traveling about 100 ft, the airplane encountered soft sand, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the empennage. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing (landing roll)
- Wrong surface or wrong airport during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft surface › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 238 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 20, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 196.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Aerospace Technolo Titan X340 (piston); 240 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ADH Ada OK at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KADH, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KADH 020615Z AUTO 15009KT 10SM CLR 05/M05 A3008 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 17, 2021. 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N9111 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.