# NTSB LAX06CA149: M.C. Thomas Thorpe T-18, N778T, Reno, NV, April 28, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 27, 2006, 19:30 local (Apr 28, 2006, 02:30 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.667221, -119.876113 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6672&lon=-119.8761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA149 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A contributing factor was the certified flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, flightcrew - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The airplane veered off the runway during landing and nosed over after encountering soft sand. The pilot had recently purchased the airplane, and this was his third instructional flight. The main purpose of this flight was to work on directional control of the airplane. The pilot and his flight instructor departed on runway 08, with a crosswind from 160 degrees at 3 to 4 miles per hour (mph), for work in the traffic pattern. During the second landing, the pilot landed to the left of the centerline. As the tail wheel settled onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. He increased the throttle, and applied right rudder. The airplane did not seem to respond, so he applied the brakes. It veered hard to the left and went off the runway into soft sand and sagebrush and nosed over. ## Factual narrative On April 27, 2006, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a M. C. Thomas Thorpe T-18, N778T, veered off the runway and nosed over during landing at Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The certified flight instructor (CFI) pilot and the private pilot undergoing instruction (PUI) sustained minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight departed Stead Airport about 1830. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot submitted a written report. He had recently purchased the airplane, and this was his third instructional flight. The main purpose of this flight was to work on directional control of the airplane during landings. They departed on runway 08, with a crosswind from 160 degrees at 3 to 4 miles per hour (mph), for work in the traffic pattern. During the second landing, the pilot landed to the left of the centerline. As the tail wheel settled onto the runway, the airplane veered to the left. He increased the throttle, and applied right rudder. The airplane did not seem to respond, so he applied the brakes. It veered hard to the left and went off the runway into soft sand and sagebrush. The airplane caught in the soft sand, and nosed over. The pilot broke out a portion of the windscreen, and he and the CFI crawled out. Emergency assistance and local volunteers arrived on scene. The pilot drove himself to the hospital, and received treatment for lacerations and a separated shoulder. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N778T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N778T-2006-08-31), registration cancelled 2006-08-31, S/N 1124, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: M.C. Thomas Thorpe T-18 - Registry model: [Thomas-Michael THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomas-michael-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510C5) (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: 1124 - Engines: Lycoming O-380-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Scott E. Monsen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 4SD, Reno - Airport: 4SD, Reno-Stead, runway 8, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 67; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 10,600 total, 3 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 463 total, 3 in this make and model, 46 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 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 20060427006199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060427006199A), Apr 27, 2006: Amtr THORPT18, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot-in-command, serving as an instructor to the aircraft owner, was in the right seat when the private pilot receiving instruction, flying from the… 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.