Amateur-built SUPER CUB REPLICA accident near Saratoga Springs, Utah, September 29, 2018
On September 29, 2018 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built SUPER CUB REPLICA, registered N1698K, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Saratoga Springs, Utah. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll with crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2018 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Saratoga Springs, Utah · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SUPER CUB REPLICA, built 1990
- Registration
- N1698K · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he had performed several takeoffs and landings from the shoreline of a lake. He reported that, during the takeoff roll about 25 knots, a right crosswind gust pushed the airplane left and into the water. The left main landing gear entered the water, and the airplane spun 90° to the left, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and rudder. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during takeoff, the wind was from 180° at 20 knots, gusting to 45 knots. The METAR for an airport located 4 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 210° at 11 knots with no gusts. The pilot reported that he took off to the southeast.
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)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 1,300 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2018
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,400 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 1, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-NEXP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 6:00 pm
- Destination: MU77 Fayette MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 21,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KPVU, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 13, 2019. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 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.