# NTSB ANC04LA022: Bertrand/Warner Thorp T-18, N98WB, Crescent City, FL, February 14, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 14, 2004, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Crescent City, FL - Coordinates: 29.501943, -81.57833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5019&lon=-81.5783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58760 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58760/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA022 ## Probable cause The pilot's continued VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain terrain clearance. Factors associated with the accident were fog and low ceilings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering - weather condition - fog (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The solo private certificated pilot was en route to a private airport to attend a fly-in for homebuilt aircraft owners/builders. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airplane's point of departure, but instrument meteorological conditions were reported along the pilot's route of flight. A friend said that accident pilot had attempted the same flight earlier in the day, but was unable to reach the airport due to low clouds and fog. Several residents in the vicinity of the accident site reported low clouds, fog, and reduced visibility in the area at the time of the accident. Ear witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a low flying airplane to the east, over a large lake. The witnesses said that as the airplane's engine sound increased, they heard a sudden impact, and the engine noise stopped abruptly. The witnesses consistently reported that they were not able to see the airplane due to very low visibility in mist and fog, and that the accident airplane's engine appeared to be producing full power prior to striking the water. Search and rescue personnel located the submerged airplane wreckage, and discovered the pilot's body inside, still restrained within the pilot's seat. ## Factual narrative On February 14, 2004, about 1130 Eastern standard time, a wheel-equipped experimental/homebuilt, Bertrand/Warner Thorp T-18 airplane, N98WB, was destroyed during an in-flight collision with water, about 1 mile southeast of Crescent City, Florida. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo private certificated pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the airplane's point of departure, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, about 1100, and was en route to the Pomona Landing Airport, Pomona Park, Florida. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on February 14, a friend of the pilot said that the accident pilot was en route to the Pomona Landing Airport to attend a fly-in for homebuilt aircraft owners/builders. He said that the accident pilot had attempted the same flight earlier in the day, but was unable to reach the airport due to low clouds and fog. Several residents of Crescent City reported low clouds, fog, and reduced visibility in the area at the time of the accident. According to a responding Florida Highway Patrol Officer, witnesses reported hearing what sounded like a low flying airplane to the east of Crescent City, and over Crescent Lake. The witnesses said that as the airplane's engine sound increased, they heard a sudden impact, and the engine noise stopped abruptly. The witnesses consistently reported that they were not able to see the airplane due to very low visibility in mist and fog, and that the accident airplane's engine appeared to be producing full power prior to striking the water. Search and rescue personnel conducted an extensive search of Crescent Lake for survivors. About 1300, divers located the submerged airplane wreckage, and discovered the pilot's body inside, still restrained within the pilot's seat. The closest official weather observation station is located in Saint Augustine, Florida, about 30 miles northeast of the accident site. On February 14, at 1135, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) for Saint Augustine stated in part: Wind, 010 degrees (true) at 5 knots; visibility, 1/2 statute miles with mist; clouds, 100 feet overcast; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 55 degrees F; altimeter, 30.00 inHg. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N98WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N98WB-2004-08-12), registration cancelled 2004-08-12, S/N 524, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bertrand/Warner Thorp T-18 - Registry model: [Bertrand Wf/Warner DC THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/bertrand-wf-warner-dc-thorp-t-18) (registry code 05620MN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 524 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William F. Bertrand - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KEVB, New Smyrna, FL - Destination: 78FL, Pomona, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,300 total ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 5 knots - Visibility: 0.5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 100 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KSGJ, 30 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040214013739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040214013739A), Feb 14, 2004: Amtr THORPT18, Cresent City, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) [privacy data omitted] departed from new smyra beach, FL. Airport at approx. 10:00AM on 02/14/2004 under IFR conditions. Metar-sgj 141635 z 01005KT 1/2SM… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.