# NTSB CEN18LA124: White Thorpe T 18, N118RG, Cleburne, TX, March 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 14, 2018, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Cleburne, TX - Coordinates: 32.415554, -97.384162 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4156&lon=-97.3842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 19, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 96889 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96889/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96889 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA124 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05617OS), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that the engine was running roughly after he departed on the local flight; after troubleshooting to no avail, he decided to return to the airport. He stated that he "mistakenly landed in a pasture, short of the runway," and the airplane struck a tree. Although the pilot reported that the fuel line was not feeding fuel to the engine, he also reported that he believed he ran out of fuel; examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel. Because of the pilot's belief that he ran out of fuel and the lack of evidence of fuel at the accident site, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Factual narrative On March 14, 2018, about 1600 central daylight time, a White Thorpe T-18 airplane, N118RG, impacted a tree and terrain during a forced landing following an inflight loss of engine power near Cleburne, Texas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged during the impact. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Blackwood Airpark, near Cleburne, Texas, at 1545.According to the pilot's accident report, the flight departed to the north from the airport. The engine was running rough while he was flying northbound. The pilot started troubleshooting the roughness and decided to return to return to the airport. He stated, "I mistakenly landed in a pasture, short of the runway, with [the] plane coming to rest after hitting a tree." The pilot reported to the Texas Department of Public Safety Officer at the scene that the fuel line was not feeding through, and later reported to a Federal Aviation Inspector (FAA) that he believed he ran out of fuel. The FAA inspector examined the airplane at the scene. There was no evidence of fuel. The engine had been pulled away from the fuselage. Due to the extent of the damage, the fuel system and engine were not tested. There was no record that an annual inspection of the airplane was conducted recently. The pilot reported the last annual inspection was on May 17, 2011. The pilot reported that he did not have a current flight review and did not know the date of his last medical certificate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N118RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118RG-2021-05-20), registration cancelled 2021-05-20, S/N 001, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WHITE THORPE T 18 - Registry model: [White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/white-paris-randy-white-thorpe-t-18) (registry code 05617OS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 70 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, May 17, 2011 - Departed: TX46, CLEBURNE, TX - Destination: TX46, CLEBURNE, TX - Airport: TX46, Blackwood Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 780.9 total, 5.2 in this make and model, 780.9 as pilot in command, 0.2 in the last 90 days, 0.2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 6 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KCPT, 4 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 20180314002509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180314002509A), Mar 14, 2018: White Paris Randy WHITE THORPE T-18, Cleburne, TX, Substantial damage. On March 14, 2018, at approximately 1630 central daylight time, a White thorpe T18, N118RG, impacted trees on the edge of a field in Cleburne Texas. The… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96889. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 355 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474940&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for record – communication summary -- inspector greg sheehan (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474941&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD%20%E2%80%93%20COMMUNICATION%20SUMMARY%20--%20INSPECTOR%20GREG%20SHEEHAN-Master.PDF - Memorandum for record – communication summary --- inspector greg sheehan (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474942&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD%20%E2%80%93%20COMMUNICATION%20SUMMARY%20---%20INSPECTOR%20GREG%20SHEEHAN-Master.PDF - Photos - FAA Supplied Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20-%20FAA%20Supplied%20Photo-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. --- 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.