# NTSB CEN09LA329: Johnston Coyt E T-18, N118TX, Granbury, TX, May 29, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2009, 17:22 local (22:22 UTC)
- Place: Granbury, TX
- Coordinates: 32.352222, -97.6725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3522&lon=-97.6725&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73948
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA329
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73948/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73948
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA329

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnston Coyt E T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05624BU), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Johnston Coyt E T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624BU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Johnston Coyt E T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05624BU), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Johnston Coyt E T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05624BU), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot lost control of the experimental single-engine airplane during landing, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preaccident discrepancies.

## Factual narrative

On May 29, 2009, at 2208 central daylight time, N118TX, an experimental Thorpe T-18, was substantially damaged after a loss of control while landing at Pecan Plantation Airport (0TX1), Granbury, Texas. The private pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airplane wreckage was examined on August 6, 2009, under the supervision of the Safety Board. The airplane came to rest inverted as a result of the accident and subsequently sustained substantial damage to the wings and the vertical stabilizer. No pre-mishap mechanical deficiencies were noted with the airplane or the engine. A review of the airplane maintenance logbook revealed that the last condition inspection was completed on September 30, 2008, at a tachometer time of 240.48. The pilot sustained serious injuries as a result of the accident and NTSB form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, had not been submitted at the time this report was completed. The weather at Granbury Regional Airport, approximately 9 miles northwest of the accident site, at 2224, was reported as winds from 110 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 7,500 feet, temperature 32 degrees Celsius, 11 degrees Celsius, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.02 inches.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N118TX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N118TX), registered now, S/N 1501, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHNSTON COYT E T-18
- Registry model: [Johnston Coyt E T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnston-coyt-e-t-18) (registry code 05624BU) (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: 1501
- Airframe hours: 246.44
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Morgan Ken C
- Registered owner: Morgan Ken C
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 30, 2008, 5.96 hours before
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: 0TX1, Pecan Plantation, runway 18, 3,500 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: GDJ, 9 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 20090529017309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090529017309A), May 29, 2009: Coytej T18, Granbury, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 29, 2009, at around 17:30 local time, a coyt e. johnston T-18 owned and operated by ken c. morgan. The aircraft touched down and veered off the…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73948. 27 KB in all.

- NTSB Record of Examination (item 1, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320857&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Examination-Master.PDF

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.

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