# NTSB CHI78FEP52: Thorp T-18, N18FK, Oshkosh, WI, July 30, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: July 30, 1978
- Place: Oshkosh, WI · OSHKOSH, WI
- Location: 44.0232° N, 88.5623° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Oshkosh, WI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0232&lon=-88.5623&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 8, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139390
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI78FEP52
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FEP52

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3407  78/7/30    OSHKOSH,WI          THORP T-18          CR-  1  0  0  MISCELLANEOUS             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 674
        TIME - 1540                    N18FK               PX-  1  0  0  AIR SHOW/RACING           TOTAL HOURS, 82 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WITTMAN FIELD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          OSHKOSH,WI                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: SPIN                                              LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - POORLY PLANNED APPROACH
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, IN PERSON
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          SCATTERED                                                UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  RELATIVE BEARING OF WIND
          NONE                                                     LEFT QUARTERING HEAD WIND 293-337 DEGREES
        TEMPERATURE-F                                            WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES
           60                                                      110
        WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS                                      TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
           5                                                       VFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LOW BASE LEG WITH TURN TO FINAL AT APRX 50-100FT AGL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N18FK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N18FK-1980-07-01), registration cancelled 1980-07-01, S/N 704, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THORP T-18
- Registry model: [Kaeppel THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/kaeppel-thorp-t-18) (registry code 8951067) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Wittman Field

## 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 19780730036689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780730036689A), Jul 30, 1978: Kinner SPORTSTERK, Oshkosh, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Low base leg with turn to final at aprx 50-100FT AGL.

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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