# NTSB NYC84LA004: Thorp T-18, N4860S, East Haddam, CT, October 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 9, 1983, 14:25 local (18:25 UTC)
- Place: East Haddam, CT
- Location: 41.4457° N, 72.4556° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GOODSPEED (42B), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4457&lon=-72.4556&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 35449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC84LA004
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/35449/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA004

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - ground loop/swerve - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - loose objects (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FIRST APRCH WAS TOO HIGH AND HE WENT AROUND. ON THE SECOND APRCH, AFTER FLARE, THERE WAS A GUST OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT AND THE ACFT LOST LIFT. POWER WAS ADDED TO REDUCE THE SINK RATE, BUT THE ACFT BOUNCED AND SETTLED TO THE RWY. HE REDUCED POWER BUT THE SPEED DID NOT BLEED OFF. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO ROLL TOWARD PARKED ACFT, SO TO AVOID A COLLISION HE TURNED THE ACFT TOWARD THE WATER. THE ACFT CAME TO REST A FEW FEET FROM THE WATER, BUT FLIPPED OVER AS THE MAIN GEAR HIT AN OBJECT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4860S (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: THORP T-18
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 259
- Airframe hours: 180
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Nimrod Litvak
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 23, 1983, 25 hours before
- Departed: BROOKHAVEN, NY
- Airport: 42B, Goodspeed, runway 32, 2,118 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 300 total, 25 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19831009055689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831009055689A), Oct 9, 1983: Amtrth THORPT18, East Haddam, CT, Substantial damage. Overshot runway while landing in a gusty crosswind. Flipped over in some water off the end of the runway.

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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