Zawada Super Cuby accident near Cantwell, AK
On July 4, 2002, a Zawada Super Cuby (airplane) was involved in an accident near Cantwell, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 4, 2002
- Place
- Cantwell, AK
- Aircraft
- Zawada Super Cuby · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 63.294°N, 150.254°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020724X01197
Official records · ANC02FA070
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 4, 2002, at 1428 Alaska daylight time, a tundra tire-equipped experimental/homebuilt, Zawada Super Cuby airplane, N43Z, sustained substantial damage following an in-flight loss of control and subsequent impact with mountainous terrain, about 35 miles west of Cantwell, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airplane's point of departure, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at a private airstrip, located about 8 miles southwest of Wasilla, Alaska, at an estimated time of 1200. A family member reported to search personnel that prior to leaving the family household, the accident pilot left a note stating his intentions to fly over various glaciers in an area of mountainous terrain within the Denali National Park, Alaska, and then return before dinner time. The family member added that the purpose of the flight was to show the passenger some Alaskan scenery. When the airplane did not return, the flight was reported overdue on July 6, 2002, at 0935. On July 8, 2002, about 1300, airborne search personnel located the wreckage at the 5,000 foot msl level, approximately 1 mile west of the 5,800 foot summit of Anderson Pass. Anderson Pass is located about 90 miles north of the airplane's departure airstrip. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. The most rec
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall, and subsequent collision with terrain. A contributing factor was the pilot's impairment from the effects of prescription painkilling drugs.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
