Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 accident near Usaf Academy, Colorado, April 26, 2002
On April 26, 2002 at about 6:08 pm local time, a Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150, registered N990CC, was destroyed in an accident near Usaf Academy, Colorado (Usaf Academy airport). It was a public-use flight under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2002 · about 6:08 pm local time
- Place
- Usaf Academy, Colorado · Usaf Academy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N990CC · registry record · serial 9917CC
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a tow approximately 7,500 feet msl, the glider was positioned above and to the right of the tow plane. The tow plane suddenly rolled left and descended in a vertical spiral, pulling the glider with it. After making several attempts to release the tow, the cadet instructor heard a loud "snap" and the glider broke free. The tow plane struck the ground, exploded, and burned. The glider returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The tow plane's tow hook was found unlatched and the tow line was draped over the surrounding trees. One end of the rope, with eyelet still attached, was next to the tow plane. The other end had failed and the braids were "feathered." No anomalies with the glider's latching mechanism were noted. The portion of tow rope and hook that attached to the glider was not located. Postmortem examination disclosed "significant atherosclerotic plaque deposition" of the coronary arteries.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,479 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 24, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,215 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 2002; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-CIG (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AFF Usaf Academy CO at 6:00 pm
- Destination: AFF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 4,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from AFF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.