CubCrafters CCK-1865 N56DV

Summary

On 1 October 2023 at about 17:30 local time, a CubCrafters CCK-1865 registered N56DV, operated by Tesla Sunsets LLC, was involved in an accident near Twisp, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 October 2023 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Twisp, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Private (2S0)

Coordinates

48.3295, -120.0120

Aircraft

CubCrafters CCK-1865

Registration

N56DV

Category

Airplane

Year built

2022

Engines

1

Operator

Tesla Sunsets LLC

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24FA001

1 person died.

The pilot’s failure to see and avoid a rock during an aborted landing on a hillside, the collision with which resulted in damage to the aileron system that precluded subsequent control of the airplane.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot planned on landing on an upsloping hillside and made two low passes, performing reconnaissance over the landing area. The airplane touched down on the slope and then, for unknown reasons, the pilot aborted the landing. The airplane became airborne again and collided with a large rock immediately ahead. The impact with the rock resulted in the airplane’s left landing gear folding under the fuselage and a portion of the airframe becoming deformed. The airplane continued flying and entered a gradual left turn, during which the pilot stated over the radio, “I’m flying, but I’m having problems.” The airplane subsequently collided with terrain. Examination of the wreckage revealed evidence that, as a result of the damage sustained during the airplane’s impact with the rock, the aileron cable likely became captured in the pulley housing, prohibiting the pilot from being able to directionally control the airplane. The pilot had baseline cognitive deficits that adversely affected problem-solving, adaptability, and impulse control, such that the FAA determined his medical certification to be incompatible with aviation safety; these deficits may have negatively influenced his decisions and performance during the flight. The pilot also had underlying heart disease; however, the circumstances of the accident did not indicate a sudden medical event, and it is unlikely that the pilot’s heart disease contributed to the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.