LAX04LA033

NTSB accident investigation · Davidson-Thorpe T-18 · Coalinga, CA · November 2, 2003

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

Loss of control - on ground/waterLanding - roll
Weather condition - tailwind
Airspeed - excessivePilot in command
Directional control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Ground loop/swerve - encounteredPilot in command
Recovery from bounced landing - improperPilot in commandCause
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterLanding - roll
Terrain condition - soft
Nose overLanding - roll

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.