Cub Crafters INC CC18-180 accident near Littlefield, Texas, May 22, 2026
On May 22, 2026 at about 4:15 pm local time, a 2018 Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, registered N472AK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Littlefield, Texas (Littlefield Taylor Brown Muni). It was a glider-towing flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive approach speed, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and nose-over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2026 · about 4:15 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Littlefield, Texas · Littlefield Taylor Brown Muni · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, built 2018 · all CC18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N472AK · registry record · serial CC18-0091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Glider-towing flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had been conducting glider tow operations and the gliders were landing back to the same airport that he had departed from. After releasing a glider, he flew west of the airport to survey the landing area due to the high volume of activity on the ground at the airport. He determined that he would land to a grassy area adjacent to the runway. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a short base-to-final approach and noted that his approach speed was approximately 5 to 10 mph faster than normal with full flaps extended. He touched down “fairly firm” in a tail-low wheel landing attitude. After the tailwheel contacted the ground, he applied full aft elevator and braking. The landing area was rougher than anticipated, which caused the airplane to bounce and become airborne. When the main landing gear settled back onto the ground, the tail rose rapidly. The pilot released the brakes and applied full aft elevator; however, the airplane continued to pitch forward and nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The fuselage, left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He further reported that he should have remained clear of the traffic pattern until the distractions in the landing area were clear, and he also felt he rushed the approach while conducting his traffic pattern maneuvers.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,966 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 126 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command; 5,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 8, 2026
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,324.1 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 22, 2026; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming Avco Corporation O-360-C1G (piston); 2,997 hours total
- Operator: Akima Logistics Services LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LIU Littlefield TX at 4:09 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01/1, 4,021 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 16,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 am from KLBB, 32 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLBB 221553Z 22009KT 10SM FEW160 22/13 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP080 T02170133
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N472AK with substantial damage to the left wing
Photograph 2 – N472AK with substantial damage to the steel tube fuselage structureThe 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 10, 2026. 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 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N472AK on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cub Crafters Inc CC18 51 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming Avco Corporation O-360-C1G 141 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Littlefield Taylor Brown Municipal · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,064 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,966 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA195.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.