N537CCCub Crafters CC18-180 · 2013

On October 19, 2014, about 1530 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cub Crafters Inc., CC18-180 airplane, N537CC, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control, while attempting to drag an off-airport landing site near Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country public-use flight, under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The certificated commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan had been filed. The flight originated at the Soldotna Airport, Soldotna, Alaska, about 1500, destined for Pincher Creek Cabin, an off-airport landing site, located within the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge near Anchorage, AK.

During an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on October 22, the pilot stated that he was making a straight in approach to the off-airport landing site located at Pincher Creek with the intention of dragging the landing surface. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced slightly settled back to the surface and veered to the left. Unable to correct for the veer the pilot applied full power in an attempt to initiate the go-around, but the airplane impacted the elevated edge of the creek bank and came to rest upright in the water, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing, elevators, and rudder. He stated that the landing area was wet and soft in places with varying vegetation causing different forces to be enacted on the wheels, and felt he had simply lost directional control.

A post-accident examination of the airplane by the NTSB IIC, two other NSTB investigators and two aviation safety inspectors from the Anchorage Flight Standards District Office revealed no mechanical irregularities that would have precluded normal operation.

At the time of the accident, the pilot was using a Garmin GPSMAP 495 portable global positioning system (GPS) receiver, capable of storing route-of-flight data. The unit was sent to the NTSB's Vehicle Recorders Division for examination.

A NTSB electrical engineer was able to extract the GPS data for the accident flight, which included, in part, time, latitude, longitude, and GPS altitude. Groundspeed and course information were derived from the extracted parameters. A flight track map overlay, and tabular data corresponding to the accident flight are available in the public docket for this accident.

The closest weather reporting facility is Anchorage Airport, Anchorage, AK about 20 miles northeast of the accident site. At 1553, an aviation routine weather report (METAR) at Anchorage, Alaska, reported: wind 340 degrees at 4 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; few clouds at 2,500 feet; broken clouds at 18,000 feet; temperature, 41 degrees F; dew point 26 degrees F; altimeter, 29.11 inHG.