# Accident 20141220023769A: Ferdon THORP T-18, San Rafael, CA, December 20, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 20, 2014, 12:44 local time
- Place: San Rafael, CA
- Airport: San Rafael County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.0100° N, 122.5000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0100&lon=-122.5000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N25VP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25VP-2018-05-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ferdon THORP T-18 (registry code 8951074, https://openairdocs.org/model/ferdon-thorp-t-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-290 series (registry code 41506, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FERDON THORP T-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-290 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 10 in this make and model, 28 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR15CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141220023769A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ PURCHASED AIRCRAFT N25VP A MONTH PRIOR TO THE EVENT. THE AIRCRAFT HAD RECEIVED A CONDITIONAL INSPECTION A MONTH PRIOR AND WAS FOUND TO BE IN A CONDITION FOR SAFE OPERATION. JUST PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED FLIGHT ON 12/20/2014 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPOSITIONED THE PILOT'S SEAT FORWARD. TO REPOSITION THE SEAT IT REQUIRED UNBOLTING AND THEN RE-BOLTING THE SEAT IN THE NEW POSITION. THE SEAT HAS ONE OF THREE POSITIONS IT CAN BE IN. THE SEAT WAS IN THE MIDDLE POSITION AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MOVED IT FORWARD TO THE MOST FORWARD POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE HIS STATURE.  AT THIS TIME ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE NEW POSITION OF THE SEAT RESTRICTED THE CONTROL YOKE FROM BEING PULLED FULLY BACK.  DURING THE TAKE-OFF ROLL ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REALIZED HE WAS NOT GETTING THE ELEVATOR AUTHORITY DESIRED. HE ADJUSTED THE ELEVATOR TRIM FOR NOSE UP AND THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FOUND THE AIRCRAFT TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE AND ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. AT THIS POINT THE AIRCRAFT WAS 1800 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY LEAVING ONLY 200 FEET TO STOP. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE BRAKES AND BRACED HIMSELF FOR THE IMPACT. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND STUCK SOME TREES WHILE FLIPPING, TAIL OVER NOSE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST AND ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ABLE TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT INJURY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR15CA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15CA066), Dec 20, 2014: Ferdon Thorp T 18 (N25VP), San Rafael, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. Contributing to the accident are an inadequate modification to the seat position, and the pilot's failure to check flight controls for freedom and…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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