# NTSB DEN84FTM02: Amateur Built Thorp T-18, N18GY, Salt Lake City, UT, July 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report
- Date: July 21, 1984, 17:00 local (Jul 22, 1984, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Salt Lake City, UT
- Coordinates: 40.80928, -111.939514 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8093&lon=-111.9395&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16255
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84FTM02
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16255/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84FTM02

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - terrain condition - rising (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather evaluation - conflicting, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS ON A X-COUNTRY TO SALT LAKE CITY. APPROACHING SALT LAKE HE SAW THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AREA. AT THIS POINT HE SAID HE HAD 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS SO HE DIVERTED TO OGDEN THEN TRIED FOR MORGAN WHERE HE WAS WAVED OFF BY 3 PEOPLE ON THERWY. PLT THEN DIVERTED TO HEBER CITY BUT BECAUSE OF A STORM HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A ROAD. HE CIRCLED IN THE EAST CANYON LAKE AREA UNTIL ALMOST OUT OF FUEL AND TRIED TO LAND ON A BOAT RAMP. THE LANDING WAS MADE IN A 30 KT TAILWIND DURING WHICH THE ACFT BOUNCED, SKIDDED AROUND A CAMPER PARKED NEAR THE RAMP, AND NOSED OVER. THE ACFT ENGINE QUIT DURING THE LANDING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N18GY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AMATEUR BUILT THORP T-18
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 775
- Airframe hours: 556
- Engines: LYCOMING O-290-GPU 125 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James S. Fite
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1984, 10 hours before
- Departed: HLN, HELENA, MT
- Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 505 total, 355 in this make and model, 440 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19840721033829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840721033829A), Jul 21, 1984: Amtrth THORPT18, East Canyon Lak, UT, Substantial damage. Cut off by thunderstorms. Passed up airports until low on fuel. Tried to land downwind on a road.

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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