Cub Crafters PA-18-150 accident near Buckeye, Arizona, February 23, 2009
On February 23, 2009 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cub Crafters PA-18-150, registered N324A, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Buckeye, Arizona (Buckeye Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's 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
- February 23, 2009 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Buckeye Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters PA-18-150 · all PA-18-150s on the register
- Registration
- N324A · registry record · serial 9962CC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While preparing to land at the destination airport, the pilot extended his downwind leg to yield to traffic ahead of his position. He observed the windsock and noted a light crosswind. While on final approach, he configured the airplane with a little left rudder in an effort to compensate for the wind conditions. Following touchdown, and while on the landing roll with the engine at idle, the airplane began to yaw to the left of runway centerline. The pilot added full right rudder deflection and then applied right brake. The airplane nosed over, coming to rest inverted. The propeller and left wing sustained damage. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. He stated during the accident sequence the winds were light and variable with no gusts.
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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 514 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ
- Destination: BXK Buckeye AZ
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 5,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.