# NTSB LAX85FA068: Hart-Thorp T-18 Tiger, N3WB, Tulare, CA, December 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 12, 1984, 16:00 local (Dec 13, 1984, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Tulare, CA
- Coordinates: 36.179115, -119.360031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1791&lon=-119.3600&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24440
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85FA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24440/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85FA068

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence in clouds (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command
  - weather evaluation - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - judgment - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, climb - to cruise
  - vfr flight into imc - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - became lost/disoriented - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - uncontrolled
  - flight control,stabilator - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - flight control,stabilator - overload (contributing factor)
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

ACFT DEPARTED ARPT & ABOUT 5 MINS LATER WAS SEEN 'DESCENDING VERTICALLY' OUT OF 'DARK RAIN CLOUD' AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL. DURING ATTEMPTED RECOVERY AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, ACFT BROKE UP & CRASHED IN A FIELD. PLT DID NOT OBTAIN WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO FLT AND DID NOT HOLD AN INSTRUEMENT RATING. WX AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 1,000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 2 IN FOG AND RAIN, WINDS CALM. WITNESSES REPORTED BASES OF CLOUDS WERE MOVING SE 'RAPIDLY' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WINDS ALOFT AT 3,000 FT WERE REPORTED AT 22 KTS. CUMULUS CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN VICINITY OF ACCIDENT SITE ALONG WITH MODERATE OR GREATER TURBULENCE. EXAMINATION OF ACFT REVEALED NO PRE-EXISTING PROBLEMS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3WB-2007-07-30), registration cancelled 2007-07-30, S/N 279, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HART-THORP T-18 TIGER
- Registry model: [Hart-Thorp T-18 TIGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hart-thorp-t-18-tiger) (registry code 89510GL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 279
- Airframe hours: 2029
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Arch H. Maxwell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: TLR, TULARE, CA
- Destination: 085, REDDING, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,263 total, 600 in this make and model, 3,215 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VIS, 10 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 19841212043799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841212043799A), Dec 12, 1984: Amtrth THORPT18, Tulare, CA, Destroyed. Lost control in clouds and airframe failure during descent. Aircraft was out of annual. No weather briefing.

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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