# NTSB ERA11LA028: Brown Thomas E Thorp T-18, N33TB, Lake Como, FL, July 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 19, 2009, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Como, FL - Coordinates: 29.473333, -81.570831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4733&lon=-81.5708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77632 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77632/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77632 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA028 ## Probable cause The pilot's delayed decision to execute a go-around while landing with variable wind, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Brown Thomas E THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=89510D6), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Brown Thomas E THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=89510D6), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Brown Thomas E THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=89510D6), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Brown Thomas E THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=89510D6), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, as the airplane was landing the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind. He elected not to perform a go-around due to power lines and trees located at the end of the runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway and struck fence posts with both wings. The pilot stated that an earlier decision to go around would have prevented this accident. He further reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. A review of recorded surface observations at airports within an approximate 50-mile radius of the airport revealed that the wind direction was variable from the west to the southeast. Some airports recorded thunderstorm and rain showers in their respective vicinity, indicating frontal passage in the area of the accident airport around the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 19, 2009, approximately 1200 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Brown Thorp T-18, N33TB, was substantially damaged when it impacted fence posts after landing at Thunderbird Air Park (2FA5), Lake Como, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed around the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured and the passenger suffered minor injuries. The personal local flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the passenger reported that the pilot attempted to land "at a high rate of speed." The airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted fence posts with both wings. Photographs provided by the passenger to the FAA revealed buckling and twisting of both wings. In an interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot stated that the winds were variable at the time of the accident, he observed the airport's wind sock and attempted to land with a headwind. During the landing the wind shifted from a headwind to a tailwind and the airplane departed the end of the runway. In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) the pilot reported that when the wind shifted to a tailwind, a go-around would not have been possible "due to the rising terrain and power lines at the departure end." He further stated that "an earlier decision to go around would have prevented this accident." The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failures with the airplane. According to the pilot and FAA records, the pilot, age 65, held a commercial pilot and certificated flight instructor certificates with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. His most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on October 1, 2008. He reported 5,025 total hours of flight experience and 300 total hours of flight experience in the accident airplane make and model. According to FAA records, the airplane was constructed from a kit in 1981 and was issued a special airworthiness certificate on June 17, 1988. The airplane was registered to the accident pilot/owner on May 2, 2001. According to the pilot, it was equipped with a Lycoming O-360-A4K engine and the airplane had accrued 640 flight hours at the time of the accident. The 1145 recorded weather observation at Ormond Beach Municipal Airport (OMN), Ormond Beach, Florida, located approximately 26 miles to the southeast of the accident location, included winds from 110 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 8 miles, few clouds at 2,000 feet, temperature 29 degrees C, dew point 20 degrees C; altimeter 30.08 inches of mercury. In a review of airports within an approximate 50 mile radius of the accident airport, with weather recording equipment, revealed that the winds were variable in direction from the west to the southeast. Airports located to the south andsoutheast of the accident airport recorded thunderstorm activity within their vicinity around the time of the accident. The airport was a private use airport with a single turf runway designated as runway 4/22. The runway was 2,870-feet-long by 80-feet-wide and was noted as having trees 100 feet from both ends of the runway. The NTSB was notified of the accident on October 21, 2010. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N33TB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N33TB-2022-10-01), registration cancelled 2022-10-01, S/N 915, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROWN THOMAS E THORP T-18 - Registry model: [Brown Thomas E THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-thomas-e-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510D6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 915 - Airframe hours: 640 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 7, 2010 - Departed: 13FA, Hastings, FL - Destination: 2FA5, Lake Como, FL - Airport: 2FA5, Thunderbird Air Park, runway 32, 2,870 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 28, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 5,025 total, 300 in this make and model, 4,600 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: OMN, 26 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 20090719857299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090719857299A), Jul 19, 2009: Brown Thoma THORP T-18, Lake Como, FL, Substantial damage. Information is from [privacy data omitted] a passenger who was on a/c and reported accident in 10/07/2010 that happened on 07/19/2009. Was offered a ride in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 15, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77632. 4.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot/Owner (item 1, .PDF, 633 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot%2FOwner-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Written Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Written%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum For Record - FAA Form 8020-23 [Excerpts] (item 3, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Form%208020-23%20%5BExcerpts%5D-Master.PDF - Florida Weather - Surface Observations (item 4, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338778&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Florida%20Weather%20-%20Surface%20Observations-Master.PDF - Scanned Images of Two (2) Photos Of Damage To Both Wings (Courtesy of Passenger) (item 5, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339858&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Scanned%20Images%20of%20Two%20(2)%20Photos%20Of%20Damage%20To%20Both%20Wings%20(Courtesy%20of%20Passenger)-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.