Cub Crafters CC18-180 N18ND accident near Crookston, Minnesota

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

NTSB analysis

The purpose of the instructional flight was to gain experience in flying the tail-wheel-configured airplane from the rear seat. Both pilots were flight instructors. The supervising instructor was in the front seat. The instructor looking to gain experience was in the rear seat. The pilots began by conducting two touch and goes on the turf runway without incident. However, as more aircraft entered the traffic pattern for the intersecting paved runway they decided to use that runway. The initial approach and flare to that runway, 13 (4,300 feet by 75 feet, asphalt), were stable. After touchdown the airplane drifted to the left. As the rear seat (flying) pilot attempted to correct, the airplane veered to the right, departing the right side of the runway and nosing over. The supervising instructor reported that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with airplane prior to the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08CA289 for the full record.