Black Sheep Aviation LLC CCX-1865 accident near Big Creek Ranger Station, Idaho, June 28, 2023
On June 28, 2023 at about 6:50 pm local time, a 2016 Black Sheep Aviation LLC CCX-1865, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N510US, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Big Creek Ranger Station, Idaho (Mile Hi 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 identify the wet landing surface and his subsequent inability to maintain directional control and stop during landing on the unimproved grass runway, which resulted in a runway excursion and unintentional ground loop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2023 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Big Creek Ranger Station, Idaho · Mile Hi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Black Sheep Aviation LLC CCX-1865, built 2016, amateur-built
- Registration
- N510US · registry record · serial CCX-1865-0007
- 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 he conducted multiple passes over the landing area to assess the landing conditions and did not see that the grass surface was wet. Upon touchdown, he noticed the airplane did not decelerate as expected due to wet tires, and the brakes had little effect. The airplane veered off its intended path, heading toward steep downhill terrain. To prevent continuing uncontrollably downhill, the pilot attempted an intentional ground loop by applying full right rudder and power. Subsequently, the airplane tipped left and stopped before reaching the steeper terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the left aileron and left elevator. The pilot 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
- Miscellaneous/other during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Ability to respond/compensate
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,800 hours in all; 425 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 45 in the last 30 days; 5,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 28, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 435 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 16, 2023; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,865 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Titan CC340 (piston); 415 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3U2 Yellow Pine ID at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from KMYL, 49 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMYL 281851Z AUTO 08007KT 10SM FEW023 BKN049 BKN080 15/09 A3007 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW RAB36E50 SLP160 P0000 T01500094 $
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 November 2, 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 | 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.