Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 N990CC

Summary

On 26 April 2002 at about 18:08 local time, a Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150 registered N990CC was involved in an accident near USAF Academy, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 April 2002 at 18:08

Classification

Accident

Location

USAF Academy, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

USAF Academy (AFF)

Coordinates

38.9844, -104.8400

Aircraft

Piper/Cub Crafters PA-18-150

Registration

N990CC

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

USAF Academy → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN02GA039

1 person died.

The loss of control for undetermined reasons.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During a tow approximately 7,500 feet msl, the glider was positioned above and to the right of the tow plane. The tow plane suddenly rolled left and descended in a vertical spiral, pulling the glider with it. After making several attempts to release the tow, the cadet instructor heard a loud "snap" and the glider broke free. The tow plane struck the ground, exploded, and burned. The glider returned to the airport and landed without further incident. The tow plane's tow hook was found unlatched and the tow line was draped over the surrounding trees. One end of the rope, with eyelet still attached, was next to the tow plane. The other end had failed and the braids were "feathered." No anomalies with the glider's latching mechanism were noted. The portion of tow rope and hook that attached to the glider was not located. Postmortem examination disclosed "significant atherosclerotic plaque deposition" of the coronary arteries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.