# NTSB FTW68A0075: Thorp T-18, N6541A, China Springs, TX, February 1, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 1, 1968
- Place: China Springs, TX · CHINA SPRINGS, TX
- Location: 31.6524° N, 97.3078° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of China Springs, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6524&lon=-97.3078&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report March 13, 1968
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 112313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW68A0075
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW68A0075

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0163   68/2/1    CHINA SPRINGS,TEX   THORP T-18          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             ATP,FLIGHT INSTR., AGE
        TIME - 1415                    N6541A              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  58, 12720 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            100 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - WACO
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - FLIGHT CONTROL SURFACES: HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, ATTACHMENTS
           AIRFRAME - WINGS: OTHER
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          NONE                                                      15
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- FAILURE OF RT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR RESULTED IN IN FLT WING SEPARATION-GUSTS INDUCED OVERLOAD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6541A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6541A-1971-11-23), registration cancelled 1971-11-23, S/N 328 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THORP T-18
- Registry model: [Martens THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/martens-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Waco

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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