Cub Crafters INC CC18-180 accident near Dallesport, Washington, January 29, 2023
On January 29, 2023 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2011 Cub Crafters INC CC18-180, registered N127DT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Dallesport, Washington. It was an instructional 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 flight instructor’s failure to see and avoid a channel marker during a step taxi in preparation for takeoff on the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 2023 · about 8:30 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Dallesport, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cub Crafters INC CC18-180 CC18-0051, built 2011 · all CC18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N127DT · no longer on the register · serial CC18-0051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that, he was demonstrating to the student pilot a water landing and step taxi from the back seat. While in the step taxi and preparing to takeoff, the student alerted the flight instructor to a channel hazard marker directly in front of the airplane. The flight instructor was unable to respond before the left wing and left side float collided with the marker about a second later. The left wing and left side float separated from the fuselage resulting in substantial damage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Sign/marker › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,751 hours in all; 884.2 in this make and model; 92.1 in the last 90 days; 30.6 in the last 30 days; 2,661.6 as pilot in command; 2,013 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 4, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 924 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 2, 2022; 16.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P (piston); 924 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDLS Dallesport WA at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.56 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KDLS, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDLS 292053Z AUTO 26006KT 10SM CLR M01/M12 A3056 RMK AO2 SLP353 T10061122 58004
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures 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 March 23, 2023. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N127DT the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N127DT: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cub Crafters Inc CC18 51 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C4P 102 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Columbia Gorge Rgnl/The Dalles Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,664 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N127DT 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR23LA101.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.