# Accident 20151106020799A: Thorp T-18, Independence, OR, November 6, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 6, 2015, 15:30 local time
- Place: Independence, OR
- Airport: Independence State
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.8367° N, 123.2008° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.8367&lon=-123.2008&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1488, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1488) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Thorp T-18 (registry code 89510T8, https://openairdocs.org/model/thorp-t-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THORP T-18
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 620 total, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR16LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA023) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151106020799A

## Narrative

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

ON DEPARTURE FOR SECOND TRIP AROUND THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, CANOPY SUPPORT BEAM FAILED CAUSING THE AFT PORTION OF THE CANOPY TO SEPARATE FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF THE CANOPY PLEXIGLASS SHATTERED.  THE PILOT REDUCED POWER TO LAND IN A FIELD.  THE DECISION TO LAND WAS BASED UPON FEAR THAT THE REST OF THE CANOPY COULD SEPARATE AND DAMAGE THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT, RENDERING THE AIRCRAFT  UNCONTROLLABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND ROLLED INTO A FENCE POST

## 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 WPR16LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA023), Nov 6, 2015: Thorp T 18 (N1488), Independence, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A separation of the canopy mechanism during flight, which resulted in the pilot’s precautionary landing and the airplane’s subsequent collision with a fence post.

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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