Cub Crafters CCX-1865 Carbon Cub FX, N126C, fatal accident occurred on January 27, 2026, near Black Canyon, Idaho

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N126C

- History of Flight:
On January 27, 2026, at about 1058 local time, a Cub Crafters CCX-1865 Carbon Cub FX, N126C, registered to N126C LLC out of Yakima, Washington, was substantially damaged when it clipped a powerline and impacted the frozen surface of the Payette River near Black Canyon, Idaho. The two occupants onboard sustained fatal injuries. The local flight originated from Emmett Municipal Airport (S78), Emmett, Idaho, at 1043 LT.

Preliminary ADS-B data shows that the airplane was flying over the lake at 2125 ft when it flew into a powerline.

The wreckage came to rest inverted directly under the powerline and there was no post crash fire. Both main gear were sheared off the main airframe. The tail sustained little to no damage. Both wings remained attached to the airframe and sustained substantial impact damage. The bottom section of the fuselage was crushed and impact damaged. The impact appears consistent with a controlled flight into the powerline and subsequent out of control impact with the lake surface.

While the powerlines did not have any orange balls attached to them, they were marked on the VFR chart and visible from a distance (see figures).

Figure 1: Powerline and path location on VFRMAP, note that powerline is black path across the lake.

Figure 2: Overview of ADS-B exchange track ran through Google Earth

Figure 3: Google Street view with end of track datapoint seen (note extend to ground option disabled)

Figure 4: Another view

Figure 5: Witness photo (above) and Google Earth Street View (below)

Figure 6: Powerline Information on openstreetmap

Figure 7: Powerlines as seen from news coverage.

- Pilot Information:
The pilot, aged 67, held a commercial pilot certificate (issued/updated on 12/2/2024) with a rating for airplane single engine land, airplane multi engine land, and a glider rating. He also held a remote pilot certificate. The pilot's FAA BasicMed Course was dated 12/1/2024.

One FAA remark states: "The carriage of passengers for hire in airplanes on cross-country flights in excess of 50 nautical miles or at night is prohibited."

- Airplane Information:
The accident aircraft, serial number CCX-1865-0016, was manufactured in 2016. It is a two-seat, high-wing, conventional landing gear (taildragger) experimental aircraft powered by a CubCrafters CC340 engine.

- Wreckage and Impact Information:
Description was provided in history of flight.

Figure 8: Investigators looking at the wreckage after it was pulled from the river. In this photo they are looking into one of the propeller blades. The other propeller blade remained attached to the propeller hub and was undamaged.

- Weather:
(1) Brief:

Weather conditions at the time were unremarkable.

(2) METARs:

METAR KBOI 271753Z 16007KT 10SM CLR 02/M06 A3042 RMK AO2 SLP325 T00221061 10022 21072 51007 $

METAR KEUL 271756Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M01/M05 A3046 RMK AO2 SLP341 T10061050 11006 21089 51008 FZRANO

METAR KONO 271753Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR M04/M07 A3048 RMK AO2 SLP353 I6000 T10391067 11039 21094 50009

(3) Sun And Moon Data:
The sun’s position at the time of the accident was about 25° over the horizon on an azimuth of 154° SSE, and the the Moon was -9 degrees under the horizon on an azimuth of 45° NE. The official sunrise occurred at 0743 LT. The official meridian occurred at 1237 LT. The moonrise occurred at 1243 LT.

(4) Area Forecast Discussion:

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boise ID
951 AM MST Tue Jan 27 2026

.DISCUSSION...High clouds are streaming into the region again
this morning, with mostly sunny skies allowing our very cold
observed temperatures before sunrise to steadily climb. A cold
front is still anticipated to move through the area tomorrow
morning, bringing light snow amounts of generally less than an
inch to the region. Some uncertainty remains in the ability of
the cold front to overcome the dry surface air in valleys, but
more confidence exists in the dominant precipitation type being
snow (if it falls) for most locations. A low chance (<30%
chance) of freezing rain exists in lower elevation valleys near
Ontario, OR and Caldwell, ID but confidence remains low. No
forecast updates needed, snow amounts and temperatures look to
be on track.

&&

.AVIATION...VFR today. Conditions degrading tonight as winter precip
moves W to E through the area between Wed/06Z-18Z. IFR-LIFR and mtn
obscuration in snow. A 30% chance of freezing rain/wintry mix in
Lower Treasure Valley Wed/09Z-14Z. Surface winds: variable up to 12
kt. Winds aloft at 10kft MSL: W to SW 10-20 kt.

KBOI...VFR today through 09Z tonight. Then... a 30 percent chance of
IFR/LIFR in snow or wintry mix Wed morning. Best chance of precip
Wed/12Z-16Z. Lingering low ceilings through late Wed morning before
improving to VFR. Surface winds: light and variable, then SE 5-10 kt
this afternoon.

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION...
SHORT TERM...Today through Thursday night...An upper level
ridge moves across the region today as a Pacific trough
approaches the coast. This transition will bring increasing mid
and high level clouds across southeast Oregon and southwest
Idaho later today.

A cold front will sweep through the area Wednesday morning,
bringing a shift to breezy northwest winds and brief snow
showers. Gusts between 25 and 35 mph are expected across the
Magic Valley and the higher terrain of the Owyhee Mountains.
Ensemble guidance shows the Treasure Valley with a 20 to 30
percent chance of precipitation between 5 and 10 AM MST on
Wednesday. However, confidence remains low regarding how
guidance is handling the persistent dry boundary layer and
limited warm air aloft. The latest HREF shows only four members
with any precipitation falling in Boise. If precipitation
occurs, it is likely to be snow in the valleys due to overnight
cold temperatures paired with lingering cold air from the
inversion. Any snow accumulations look to be less than a tenth
of an inch, with mountains seeing less than one inch.
Temperatures will remain near or slightly above seasonal normals
today before cooling toward seasonal averages behind the front
on Wednesday.

The ridge of high pressure rebuilds Thursday, though not enough
to completely remove the threat of showers across our northern
zones. Temperatures will warm back above seasonal normals
through the end of the period.

LONG TERM...Friday through Tuesday...An upper level ridge will
re-strengthen across the western U.S. Friday through Sunday,
supporting mostly dry conditions and above normal temperatures
across the forecast area. A weak, shortwave trough will pass through
northern Idaho on Friday that has a 30% chance of clipping Baker
County and west-central Idaho with precipitation, with snow levels
at approximately 4500 ft MSL. A second weak trough will attempt to
break through the upper ridge Monday and Tuesday, creating another
opportunity for precip. However, models are struggling with the
southern extension of this trough, elevating forecast uncertainty in
the precip location and how much cooling influence it will have
across the area next week.

- Additional Information:
On January 27