- Date
- November 2, 2003, 12:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Coalinga, CA
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N66MYDavidson-Thorpe T-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20031102027379A
- Case key
- 58323
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and hi failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane veered off the runway during landing rollout and nosed over. A pilot witness reported that during final approach to the runway, the airplane's airspeed was faster than normal. After touchdown, the airplane bounced down the runway, and began to veer to the left. The pilot experienced a loss of control, and the airplane continued off the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Police officers at the scene estimated that the winds were from 140 degrees at 5 knots.
Factual narrative
On November 2, 2003, about 1200 Pacific standard time, a Davidson-Thorpe T18, N66MY, veered off the runway and nosed over at Harris Ranch Airport, Coalinga, California. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries, and one passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Santa Maria, California, about 1100, en route to Fresno, California, with a stop at Harris Ranch for lunch. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed.
The pilot reported to a sheriff's department officer that during final approach to the runway, the airplane's airspeed was faster than normal. After touchdown, the airplane bounced down the runway, and began to veer to the left. The pilot experienced a loss of control, and the airplane continued off the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted.
A pilot in the landing pattern behind the accident airplane reported witnessing the airplane land on runway 32. After touchdown, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway. The right wing contacted the ground, and then the airplane nosed over.
A California Highway Patrol officer responded to the scene, and he estimated that the winds were from 140 degrees at 5 knots.
Despite repeated attempts by the Safety Board investigator, the pilot failed to submit a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N66MY
- Reported as
- Davidson-Thorpe T-18
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 588-D
- Engine
- Lycoming O -290 Series, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SMX · Santa Maria, CA
- Destination
- 3O8 · Coalinga, CA
- Airport
- 3O8 · Harris Ranch Airport, runway 32, 2,820 × 30 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- Serious
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- NLC, 15 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.
Other investigations on N66MY · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.