# NTSB DEN86FA213: Thorp T-18, N85JJ, Rawlins, WY, July 31, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 1986, 12:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Rawlins, WY
- Coordinates: 41.779983, -107.220466 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7800&lon=-107.2205&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN86FA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16840/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN86FA213

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - airspeed(vs) - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - high terrain (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - remedial action - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE ACCIDENT ACFT, A THORP T-18, WAS ONE OF FOUR ACFT (QUICKIE II, VARIEZE, LONGEZE) IN A LOOSE FORMATION THAT WAS EN ROUTE TO THE ANNUAL EAA CONVENTION AT OSHKOSH, WI. THE ACFT DEPARTED REDDING, CA, AT 0500 PDT, REFUELED AT WENDOVER, UT, AND DEPARTED THERE AT 1100 MDT. AT ABOUT 1230 MDT, WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 9500 FT MSL OVER I-80, ABOUT 5 MI WEST OF RAWLINS, WY, THE SPINNER ON THE QUICKIE II CAME LOOSE AND BROKE OFF A PROP BLADE. THE PLT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND MADE A SUCCESSFUL DOWNWIND DEAD-STICK LANDING AT ROWLINS ARPT. THE OTHER ACFT CIRCLED OVERHEAD. THE THORP WAS LAST SEEN PULLING UP AND BANKING RIGHT. NONE OF THE PILOTS SAW THE THORP T-18 CRASH. TWO GROUND WITNESSES SAID THAT THE ACFT WAS EITHER 'WIG-WAGGING ITS WINGS' OR DOING AEROBATICS. THE PLT WAS SAID TO BE 'A RELATIVELY LOW TIME PLT' WITH ABOUT 40 HRS IN MAKE/MODEL. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS SAID THAT THIS FLT WAS THE PLT'S 'FIRST REALLY LONG X-COUNTRY.'

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N85JJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85JJ-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 840, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THORP T-18
- Registry model: [Fleury James L THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/fleury-james-l-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510M2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 840
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Fleury
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: ENV, WENDOVER, UT
- Destination: CYS, CHEYENNE, WY
- Airport: RWL, Rawlins Mun

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 170 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RWL, 2 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 19860731036679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860731036679A), Jul 31, 1986: Amtrth THORPT18, Rawlins, WY, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The aircraft spun into the ground. The pilot was unfamiliar with high density altitude operations.

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.