Cub Crafters INC CC18-180 accident near Pennsboro, West Virginia, June 17, 2014
On June 17, 2014, a 2010 Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, registered N696RP, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Pennsboro, West Virginia (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during initial climb for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2014
- Place
- Pennsboro, West Virginia · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, built 2010 · all CC18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N696RP · registry record · serial CC18-0047
- 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 performed several high-speed taxis on his private airstrip. After about 15 minutes, the pilot initiated a takeoff on the 1,780-foot-long turf runway. About 100 feet above ground level, the engine either lost all power or went to idle (the pilot could not be sure); the pilot did state that the engine was not running rough before the power loss. The pilot banked the airplane left in an attempt to land on an adjacent property, but the airplane stalled and impacted a ravine. The pilot added that during the attempted forced landing, the rpm momentarily increased and then decreased again. Examination of the wreckage revealed that adequate fuel was on board and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. Continuity was confirmed throughout the fuel system and there were no obstructions in the intake or exhaust system. The carburetor was actuated by hand and no anomalies were observed. The propeller was rotated 360 degrees by hand and no mechanical malfunctions were observed. Review of a carburetor icing chart revealed that, for the given temperature and dew point, serious icing was possible at glide power; however, the engine was at full power during the takeoff and initial climb before the loss of engine power.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,601 hours in all; 485 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 208 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2014; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 208 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Pennsboro WV
- Destination: NONE Pennsboro WV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,780 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from CKB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 ERA14LA294.