# NTSB ERA20CA228: Thorp Thorp T 18, N70BZ, Madisonville, TN, May 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 29, 2020, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Madisonville, TN - Coordinates: 35.437221, -84.401664 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4372&lon=-84.4017&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA228 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101484/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101484 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA228 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll on a soft turf runway, which resulted in a nose-over. ## 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: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05606K3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: soft surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/cases.md?model=05606K3), [All aircraft, 264 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023020/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: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05606K3), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05606K3), [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: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05606K3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gardner William R THORP T-18, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606K3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he was landing on a soft turf runway following an uneventful local flight. During the landing roll, he applied "a little too much braking," and the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer, rudder, and fuselage were buckled. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70BZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70BZ), registered now, S/N 1325, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Thorp THORP T 18 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Gardner William R THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/gardner-william-r-thorp-t-18) (registry code 05606K3) (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: 1325 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 550 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 25, 2019 - Departed: Madisonville, TN - Destination: PVT, TN - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,372 total, 77 in this make and model, 393 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MMI, 12 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 20200529010469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200529010469A), May 29, 2020: Gardner William R THORP T-18, Madisonville, TN, Substantial damage. The aircraft pilot, operating the aircraft with no other souls on board, landed his thorp T-18 (serial number 1325) at a privately owned grass landing strip… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101484. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9926500&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Johnson%20NTSB%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9923963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Pilot%27s%20telephone%20correspondence%20CA228-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement memorandum (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9932550&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20CA228%20pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9923650&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20telephone%20correspondence%20CA228-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9924228&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CA228-Rel.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.