Found FBA2C accident near Moses Lake, Washington, July 3, 2023
On July 3, 2023 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2005 Found FBA2C, registered CFXRB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Moses Lake, Washington (Grant County airport). It was an instructional flight under non-U.S. private rules. No one was hurt; 4 people were 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 during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2023 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moses Lake, Washington · Grant County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Found FBA2C, built 2005
- Registration
- CFXRB · no longer on the register · serial 54
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported a left crosswind during the landing approach. The pilot receiving instruction executed a 3-point landing and the tailwheel bounced twice. The instructor told the student to “pin the tail” by applying full aft elevator. The airplane deviated right of runway centerline and the pilot corrected with left rudder. The airplane crossed the centerline to the left and did not respond to full right rudder and heavy right braking. The airplane ground looped to the left sustaining substantial damage to the right wing and right horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,850 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,500 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 8, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,100 hours in all; 32 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 766 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2023; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-L1C5 (piston); 766 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYVK Vernon, Bc OF at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MWH Moses Lake WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14L, 13,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 am from KMWH, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMWH 031452Z 02003KT 10SM OVC110 20/02 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP163 T02000022 51015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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, 1 page | 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.