CubCrafters CC11-160 N1951B

Summary

On 18 March 2018 at about 15:30 local time, a CubCrafters CC11-160 registered N1951B, operated by Plane FUN LLC, was involved in an accident near Browns Valley, California, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 March 2018 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Browns Valley, California, United States

Coordinates

39.2197, -121.4114

Aircraft

CubCrafters CC11-160

Registration

N1951B

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Plane FUN LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lincoln → Lincoln

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR18LA107

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the environment and maintain a sufficient altitude to avoid power lines.  

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that he was maneuvering at an altitude of about 500 ft over an unpopulated area and studying the river when the airplane must have gone below 500 ft and hit something. A fire started, and the airplane subsequently crashed in the river and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that he was later told that he hit a power line. The river runs generally east to west. The power lines were about 200 ft tall, ran across the river generally north and south, and extended about 1 mile. The wreckage was located about 2,000 ft east of the power lines in about 3 ft of water. Power line company personnel reported that six power lines were found separated. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot likely was not vigilant in monitoring the environment for obstructions and did not maintain a sufficient altitude to avoid the power lines.  

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.