- Date
- August 14, 1995, 11:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Sedona, AZ
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8032QThorp T18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950814024069A
- Case key
- 29187
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's loss of directional control in gusty tail wind conditions during the landing roll.
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.
Analysis
The pilot landed on runway 03 with a tail wind from 170 to 200 degrees and lost directional control during the landing roll. The winds were 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots, with a density altitude of 7,800 feet. There was no reported mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Factual narrative
On August 14, 1995, at 1150 hours mountain standard time, an experimental Thorp T18, N8032Q, ground looped during a landing on runway 03 at Sedona, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time for the personal cross-country flight that originated from Santa Fe, New Mexico. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and the two occupants were not injured. The pilot reportedly filed a VFR flight plan before departing Santa Fe and there is no record of him receiving a weather briefing.
The winds at Sedona at the time were reported to be from 170 to 200 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 14 knots.
The pilot did not file an accident report, nor did he report any mechanical problems with the aircraft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8032Q
- Reported as
- Thorp T18
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 126
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Charles R. Patton
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SAF · Santa Fe, NM
- Destination
- SEZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SEZ · Sedona, runway 3, 5,131 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 52
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 400 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility
- 65 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.