# NTSB LAX07CA100: Hirsch Thorp T-18, N78DH, San Diego, CA, March 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 3, 2007, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: San Diego, CA - Coordinates: 32.566665, -116.966667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5667&lon=-116.9667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 65373 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65373/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper bounced landing recovery and improper use of the flight controls that resulted in a porpoise and a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause) - porpoise/pilot-induced oscillation - not corrected, pilot in command (cause) - aborted landing - attempted, pilot in command - flight controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The conventional gear airplane bounced two times after touchdown and nosed over. On the first bounce, the pilot added a small amount of power to allow the airplane to settle back onto the runway. However, the airplane bounced again, and he added full power in an attempt to go around and pushed forward on the control stick. The propeller then contacted the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Factual narrative On March 3, 2007, about 1100 Pacific standard time, an amateur built experimental Hirsch Thorp T-18, N78DH, nosed over during landing at Brown Field Municipal Airport (SDM), San Diego, California. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger received minor injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The local personal flight departed SDM about 1000. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The approximate global positioning system (GPS) coordinates of the primary wreckage were 32 degrees 34 minutes north latitude and 116 degrees 58 minutes west longitude. The pilot operator stated in a written report that while landing on runway 8L the airplane bounced and became airborne. The pilot added a small amount of power and let the airplane settle back onto the runway. The airplane bounced again, and the pilot noticed that the airplane was close to the right edge of the runway. He applied full power and pushed forward on the control stick. The propeller struck the runway and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78DH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78DH-2013-10-24), registration cancelled 2013-10-24, S/N T-18-125, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hirsch Thorp T-18 - Registry model: [Hirsch THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/hirsch-thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510A2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320-B2B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-b2b) (registry code 42138, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 125 - Airframe hours: 1778.4 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D25 170 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 1, 2006, 6 hours before - Departed: SDM, San Diego, CA - Destination: San Diego, CA - Airport: SDM, Brown Field Muni, runway 8L, 7,972 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 284 total, 4 in this make and model, 76 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: SDM ## 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 20070303003929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070303003929A), Mar 3, 2007: Amtr THORPT18, San Diego, CA, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that he was attempting to land on runway 8L at ksdm, San Diego, CA. During the landing, he bounced and became… 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.