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).
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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 October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 2026 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Littlefield, Texas · Littlefield Taylor Brown Muni · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26LA195.