Amateur-built SUPER CUB SPORT accident near Spanish Fork, Utah, May 7, 2017
On May 7, 2017 at about 2:45 am local time, a 2014 amateur-built SUPER CUB SPORT, registered N47KJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork-Springville-Woodh 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's decision to land with a gusting tailwind and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2017 · about 2:45 am local time
- Place
- Spanish Fork, Utah · Spanish Fork-Springville-Woodh · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUPER CUB SPORT NO SERIES, built 2014
- Registration
- N47KJ · no longer on the register · serial 471D
- 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, "about half way through the [landing] rollout I lost control of the aircraft and ground looped to the right." During the ground loop, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the runway. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot failed to submit the National Transportation Safety Board NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/ Operator Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report after multiple requests. An automated weather observation station, 5 nautical miles from the accident airport, recorded that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 120° at 20 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The pilot reported that the landing was on runway 30.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Decision related to condition
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: U77 Spanish Fork UT
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 30, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 2:47 am from KPVU, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 6, 2017. 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 Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | 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.