Cubcrafters INC CC11-160 accident near Springfield, Tennessee, August 6, 2021
On August 6, 2021 at about 9:20 pm local time, a 2015 Cubcrafters INC CC11-160, registered N825ME, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Springfield, Tennessee. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2021 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cubcrafters INC CC11-160, built 2015 · all CC11-160s on the register
- Registration
- N825ME · registry record · serial CC11-00372
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that the engine suddenly stopped producing power while climbing at an altitude of about 400 ft above ground level after a touch-and-go landing. With no time to troubleshoot the reason for the loss of power, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, where the airplane contacted a fence and the fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. Weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident flight were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the description of the partial loss of engine power and the phase of flight at which it occurred were not consistent with carburetor icing. A postaccident examination and test run revealed that the engine was able to operate normally. During the examination it was noted that a fuel valve was leaking, though it is likely that this was due to damage sustained during the accident. Additionally, the electronic ignition system backup battery voltage was low. During the engine test run when the main ignition system circuit breakers were deactivated, and with the right side backup ignition selected, the engine lost power (and appropriate annunciations were illuminated on the instrument panel). Given that the pilot did not report any ignition system issues or annunciations, it is unlikely that the voltage issue noted with the backup system played a role in the reported loss of engine power. Based on this information, a reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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 (total) during initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (descent)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,732 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 315 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 2,142 as pilot in command; 1,573 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 23, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 267 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2021
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Titan OX-340CC-B3J3 (piston); 267 hours total
- Operator: Plane Company LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from CKV, 24 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCKV 062052Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02890172 56014
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on August 23, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Supplemental Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspectors Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memo for Record - FAA Oversight of Engine Run | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Pilot Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Maintenance Records Excerpt | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Post Accident Examination and Test Run Report_c & D Aviation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Garmin G3X Tabular Data | spreadsheet | Download |
| 10 | Photo Array_airplane Damage and Accident Site | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.
