# NTSB ERA10CA067: Robert Wood Thorp T18, N335BW, Newburgh, NY, November 16, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 16, 2009, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Newburgh, NY - Coordinates: 41.502223, -74.102775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5022&lon=-74.1028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75070 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75070/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75070 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing rollout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wood Robert L. THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=89510BW), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Wood Robert L. THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=89510BW), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Wood Robert L. THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=89510BW), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Wood Robert L. THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=89510BW), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was conducting his second stop-and-go landing when the airplane touched down with a "very slight bounce." After the airplane settled back onto the runway, it began "pulling" to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder, but the airplane's response was "slow," and the airplane departed the runway into the "wet and muddy" grass. As the airplane decelerated, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures; nor were any discovered when a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane following the accident. The weather reporting facility at the accident airport reported winds from 020 degrees at 6 knots about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that he was conducting his second stop-and-go landing when the airplane touched down with a "very slight bounce." After the airplane settled back onto the runway, it began "pulling" to the left. The pilot stated that he applied right rudder, but the airplane's response was "slow," and the airplane departed the runway into the "wet and muddy" grass. As the airplane decelerated, it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures; nor were any discovered when a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane following the accident. The weather reporting facility at the accident airport reported winds from 020 degrees at 6 knots about the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N335BW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N335BW), registered now, S/N 720, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robert Wood Thorp T18 - Registry model: [Wood Robert L. THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/wood-robert-l-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510BW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 720 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 24, 2009 - Departed: CZG, Tri Cities, NY - Destination: SWF, Newburgh, NY - Airport: SWF, Stewart International Airport, runway 09, 11,817 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: SWF ## 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 20091116051239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091116051239A), Nov 16, 2009: Wood Robert THORP T-18, Newburgh, NY, Substantial damage. As per pilots statement. Dated 11/17/2009 " my first landing at kswf was on runway 09. It was a non event landing followed by a take off for one more landing.… ## Other investigations on N335BW (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW03LA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA069), Jan 1, 2003: Wood Thorp T-18 (N335BW), Stephenville, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's loss of directional control as result of his failure to compensate for the prevailing wind conditions. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswinds. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75070. 436 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 398 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322092&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323624&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-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.