Cubcrafters INC CC11-160 accident near Browns Valley, California, March 18, 2018
On March 18, 2018 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2016 Cubcrafters INC CC11-160, registered N1951B, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Browns Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment and maintain a sufficient altitude to avoid power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2018 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Browns Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cubcrafters INC CC11-160 NO SERIES, built 2016 · all CC11-160s on the register
- Registration
- N1951B · registry record · serial CC11-00406
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that he was maneuvering at an altitude of about 500 ft over an unpopulated area and studying the river when the airplane must have gone below 500 ft and hit something. A fire started, and the airplane subsequently crashed in the river and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that he was later told that he hit a power line. The river runs generally east to west. The power lines were about 200 ft tall, ran across the river generally north and south, and extended about 1 mile. The wreckage was located about 2,000 ft east of the power lines in about 3 ft of water. Power line company personnel reported that six power lines were found separated. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot likely was not vigilant in monitoring the environment for obstructions and did not maintain a sufficient altitude to avoid the power lines.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Miscellaneous/other during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Water › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 937 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 816 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 21, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Titan OX-340CC-B3J3 (piston); 135 hours total
- Operator: Plane Fun LLC
The flight
- Departed from: LHM Lincoln CA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: LHM Lincoln CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:58 pm from KBAB, 5 miles away
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.