CubCrafters CC18 180 N550BS

Summary

On 28 March 2015 at about 23:58 local time, a CubCrafters CC18 180 registered N550BS, operated by Syme, Robert P., was involved in an accident near Westfield Township, Ohio, 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

28 March 2015 at 23:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Westfield Township, Ohio, United States

Nearest airport

Crazy Bob's Airport (2OI4)

Coordinates

41.0453, -81.9367

Aircraft

CubCrafters CC18 180

Registration

N550BS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Syme, Robert P.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lorain/Elyria → Westfield Township

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

GAA15LA027

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during a base-to-final turn while landing toward the sun.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he departed on a cross-country flight to his home airport. He planned to arrive about sunset and land to the west. The pilot's last recollection of the events leading up to the accident was initiating a right turn from the base to final leg in the traffic pattern. The airplane wreckage was found inverted on the runway, adjacent to a tree line near the approach end. A semicircular, concave indentation on the leading edge of the right wing exhibited wood and paint transfer marks consistent with marks found on a severed treetop and branches at the initial point of impact. It is likely that the pilot misjudged the airplane's height above the trees when he turned onto final and was flying toward the setting sun.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.