# NTSB CEN11FA663: Thorp T-18, N54WB, Plainwell, MI, September 23, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 2011, 08:53 local (12:53 UTC) - Place: Plainwell, MI - Coordinates: 42.467777, -85.648056 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4678&lon=-85.6481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81876 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11FA663 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81876/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81876 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11FA663 ## Probable cause The pilot did not maintain clearance from a semitrailer along the approach path. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beswick THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=89510A8), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beswick THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=89510A8), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beswick THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=89510A8), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Beswick THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=89510A8), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident airplane was the second airplane in a flight of two airplanes on approach to the destination. The pilot in the first airplane stated that there were no radio transmissions by the accident pilot of any mechanical malfunctions and that the accident pilot asked him to keep up his speed on final. The visibility on approach was about 3 miles. A witness observed that the second airplane was close to the first airplane and that both airplanes were “quite” low on approach. He indicated that the accident airplane impacted a semitrailer and “flipped” into the ditch embankment west of the runway. A ground fire ensued when the airplane impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 23, 2011, about 0853 eastern daylight time, N54WB, an experimental amateur-built Thorp T-18, owned and operated by the private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a semi-trailer and terrain while on approach to runway 9 at the Plainwell Municipal Airport (61D), near Plainwell, Michigan. A ground fire occurred. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight. The flight originated from the Tulip City Airport, near Holland, Michigan, about 0830. The accident airplane was the second airplane in a flight of two airplanes destined for 61D. The pilot in the first airplane stated that there were no radio transmissions by the accident pilot of any mechanical malfunctions and that the accident pilot asked him to keep up his speed on final. He stated that there was a haze layer that he had to fly through which was located about 400 feet above ground level. The haze layer was localized around the river and airport. He stated that the visibility under the haze layer was about three miles. A witness, working on a bridge near the accident site, reported to the Michigan Highway Police that he observed that the second plane was close to the first airplane. He stated that both airplanes were “quite” low on approach. He indicated that the accident airplane impacted the semitrailer and “flipped” into the ditch embankment west of runway 9. Another witness who was in a southbound vehicle saw the airplane impact the semitrailer. This witness indicated the visibility was “good” and that he did not see any fog. A ground fire ensued when the airplane impacted terrain. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 73, held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. His most recent medical certificate was a third class issued on July 20, 2011, without any limitations. A family member estimated that the pilot had accumulated approximately 1,921 hours of total flight time and 1,311 hours of total flight time in the accident airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The plans to build the accident airplane were sold to the pilot on September 27, 1974. A logbook endorsement showed that the last condition inspection was completed on March 2, 2011. There were no airframe hours listed in that endorsement entry. However, a family member indicated that the airplane accumulated about 1,311 hours of total flight time. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 0853, the recorded weather at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, located about 15 nautical miles and 165 degrees from the accident site, was: wind calm; visibility 6 statute miles; present weather mist; sky condition clear; temperature 11 degrees C; dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.09 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATION 61D is a public, non-towered, airport located about 2 miles north of Plainwell, Michigan, at a surveyed elevation of 722 feet above mean sea level. The airport featured tworunways: 9/27 and 1/19. Runway 9, which was 2,650 feet by 50 feet dry asphalt, had a 17-foot road, 201 feet from the runway end, a 4-foot fence, 50 feet from the runway end; and a 17-foot road, 140 feet from the runway end entries listed as obstructions. The runway had 191 foot displaced threshold. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION An on-scene examination of the wreckage was conducted. All of the flight control surfaces were found with the wreckage. The cabin area was melted, charred, and deformed consistent with involvement with a ground fire. The outer portions of the flight controls’ push-pull tubes were intact and their respective control surface moved when the tubes were moved by hand. The rudder control cables were intact and the rudder moved when the cables were moved by hand. No flight control preimpact anomalies were detected. The engine produced a thumb compression at all cylinders when the propeller was rotated by hand. The magneto sustained fire damage and its internal distributor gear was melted. The magneto produced spark at its center electrode when it was rotated by hand. The mechanical fuel pump ejected a liquid when its pump lever was manipulated by hand. No engine preimpact anomalies were detected. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Allegan County Medical Examiner arranged for an autopsy to be performed on the pilot. The autopsy listed the cause of death as smoke and soot inhalation and thermal burns. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for the tests performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N54WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N54WB-2012-01-06), registration cancelled 2012-01-06, S/N 1026, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THORP T-18 - Registry model: [Beswick THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/beswick-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510A8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1026 - Engines: Superior Air Parts, Inc. O-360-B1C3 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2011 - Departed: BIV, Holland, MI - Destination: 61D, Plainwell, MI - Airport: 61D, Plainwell Municipal Airport, runway 09, 2,650 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 27, 2009; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,921 total, 1,311 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: AZO, 15 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 20110923023319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110923023319A), Sep 23, 2011: Beswick THORP T-18, Plainwell, MI, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Two pilots in two airplanes were flying together from traverse city, Michigan, airport. Both conducted very low approaches to runway 09 at the Plainwell,… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81876. 3.7 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365864&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Witness Statements - Excerpts from the Michigan State Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365865&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20-%20Excerpts%20from%20the%20Michigan%20State%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Airplane Logbook Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 757 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365775&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Airplane%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous - Pilot Logbook Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 332 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365780&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%20-%20Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpts-Redacted.PDF - Photo - Accident Site (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo - Accident Site (item 6, .PDF, 1 photo, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo - Accident Site (item 7, .PDF, 1 photo, 513 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Accident%20Site-Master.PDF - Photo - View of the cabin (item 8, .PDF, 1 photo, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20the%20cabin-Master.PDF - Photo - View of a propeller blade (item 9, .PDF, 1 photo, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20a%20propeller%20blade-Master.PDF - Photo - View of removed sparkplugs (item 10, .PDF, 2 photos, 374 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20View%20of%20removed%20sparkplugs-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 11, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Retention / Release of Wreckage Form (item 12, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365779&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Retention%20%2F%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20Form-Redacted.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. --- 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.