# NTSB CEN15CA029: Doubleday Donald Thorp TS-18CW, N18DD, Reklaw, TX, October 25, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 25, 2014, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place: Reklaw, TX
- Coordinates: 31.843889, -94.95861
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8439&lon=-94.9586&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 10, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90307
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15CA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90307/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90307
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15CA029

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate monitoring of the airplane's approach path which resulted in long landing and a subsequent runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's delayed decision to apply the brakes, inflight traffic, and nearby pedestrians.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md)
- [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md)
- [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05627LM), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While attempting to land at a 4,000 foot long turf, private strip for a local fly-in, the accident pilot radioed his intention to land the runway. The pilot of airplane behind that accident pilot radioed his intention to perform a fly-by of the runway. The accident pilot landed long on the runway and decided to abort the landing. The trailing airplane was now overhead the accident pilot, so he delayed his takeoff. More airplane were flying overhead so the pilot decided to continue with the rollout. He assessed that the ground loop might injure nearby pedestrians, so he applied brakes, but the airplane did not stop before exiting the end of the strip into a stock tank. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing. On the submitted report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if an air boss had been present to deconflict traffic.

## Factual narrative

While attempting to land at a 4,000 foot long turf, private strip for a local fly-in, the accident pilot radioed his intention to land the runway. The pilot of airplane behind that accident pilot radioed his intention to perform a fly-by of the runway. The accident pilot landed long on the runway and decided to abort the landing. The trailing airplane was now overhead the accident pilot, so he delayed his takeoff. More airplane were flying overhead so the pilot decided to continue with the rollout. He assessed that the ground loop might injure nearby pedestrians, so he applied brakes, but the airplane did not stop before exiting the end of the strip into a stock tank. Substantial damage was sustained to the right wing. On the submitted report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented if an air boss had been present to deconflict traffic.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18DD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N18DD), registered now, S/N 003, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUBLEDAY DONALD THORP TS-18CW
- Registry model: [Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW](https://openairdocs.org/model/doubleday-donald-thorp-ts-18cw) (registry code 05627LM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 003
- Year built: 2010
- Airframe hours: 153.5
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A3A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Doubleday Donald
- Registered owner: Doubleday Donald
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, December 19, 2013, 61.7 hours before
- Departed: WEA, WEATHERFORD, TX
- Destination: 7TA7, Reklaw, TX
- Airport: 7TA7, Flying M Ranch, runway 20, 4,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 7, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 485 total, 212 in this make and model, 364 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KJSO, 13 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 20141025022489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141025022489A), Oct 25, 2014: Doubleday Donald THORP=TS-18CW, Reklaw, TX, Minor damage. Aircraft landed long at a private airport where there were numerous aircraft in the pattern making low level passes down the runway. Aircraft needed to make a…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 9, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90307. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40423242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.

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