Cub Crafters CCK-1865 accident near La Garita, Colorado, July 7, 2025
On July 7, 2025 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2024 Cub Crafters CCK-1865, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N952SA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near La Garita, Colorado. 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 failure to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering at low altitude in mountainous terrain. Contributing was the pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and aeronautical decision making.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 2025 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- La Garita, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters CCK-1865, built 2024, amateur-built
- Registration
- N952SA · registry record · serial CCK-1865-1088
- 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 he was overflying a mountain plateau about 100 ft. As he overflew the plateau with 2 or 3 notches of flaps and about 60 kts, he noticed that the terrain was rising on both sides and ahead of the flight path. The pilot increased the throttle to full power and initiated a climb; the angle of attack indicator began to alert the pilot to an impending stall. The pilot estimated that the airplane would not be able to clear trees in front of the flight path and began a slow turn to the right. The airplane then struck a tree, impacted the terrain, and came to rest upright on its nose. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had assessed the density altitude and airplane performance for the flight and flown at a higher airspeed and altitude. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Stall warn/stick-shaker/pusher during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,218 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 20.3 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,167 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 12, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 5, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,865 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming CC363I-FP (piston); 110 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RCV Del Norte CO at 3:15 pm
- Destination: PNA Pinedale WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 9:07 am from K04V, 19 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K04V 071507Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 18/06 A3044 RMK AO2 PWINO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 23, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Pilot's Narrative | 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.
Other NTSB records under N952SA 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.