# NTSB LAX89DUJ05: Warwick Thorp T-18, N9675Z, Aguila, AZ, February 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: February 22, 1989, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Aguila, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.809429, -113.179031 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8094&lon=-113.1790&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26131
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DUJ05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26131/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DUJ05

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT VEERING OFF THE RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: UNEVEN RUNWAY & THE DITCH.

## 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
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED OVER A RISE IN THE RWY & VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT WITH LEFT RUDDER, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT HIT A DITCH & NOSED OVER. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9675Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9675Z-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 01, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WARWICK THORP T-18
- Registry model: [Thorp T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/thorp-t-18) (registry code 89510TA) (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: 01
- Airframe hours: 2117
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Billy J. Warwick
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 23, 1988, 80 hours before
- Departed: E70, AGUILA, AZ
- Airport: 7ED, Eagle Point

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 4,900 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19890222002489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890222002489A), Feb 22, 1989: Amtrth THORPT18, Aguila, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost control after hitting a rise on the runway on landing. Veered off into ditch. Nosed over. Failed to go around.

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.