Amateur-built AL-3 Cub accident near Minden, Nevada, November 2, 2020
On November 2, 2020 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2013 amateur-built AL-3 Cub, registered N755MG, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Minden, Nevada (Minden Airport). 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 landing, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2020 · about 5:30 pm local time · cases in 2020
- Place
- Minden, Nevada · Minden Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AL-3 Cub, built 2013
- Registration
- N755MG · registry record · serial TX-1028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, while landing, the airplane “bounced a bit” and veered left. He corrected with application of right brake input, however, his foot slipped off the heel brake. During the subsequent attempt to apply rudder control, he unintentionally applied the brake. The nose veered to the right and before the airplane came to a complete stop, the tail rose, and the airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. The right- wing lift strut was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,344 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,284 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O200D2B (piston); 228 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KMEV Minden NV at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 7,399 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from KMEV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 3, 2021. 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 | Photo | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N755MG on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O200D2B 8,790 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Minden-Tahoe Airport · nearest airport
- Minden-Tahoe Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Nevada 1,294 since 1982 · 223 in the last ten years
- Nevada 4,583 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR21LA034.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.