# NTSB NYC94LA101: Jones Thorp T-18, N64628, East Quogue, NY, June 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 1994, 15:04 local (19:04 UTC) - Place: East Quogue, NY - Coordinates: 40.850074, -72.570442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8501&lon=-72.5704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38770 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38770/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA101 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance which resulted in oil-fouled spark plugs and the loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - ignition system,spark plug - fouled - maintenance - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The airplane was being flown for the first time in about 4 years when the engine lost power during a local flight at an altitude of 4500 feet msl. The pilot did a forced landing on a the side of a highway and the airplane nosed over during the landing. Examination of the airplane revealed the number four cylinder spark plugs were oil fouled. The engine had been overhauled about a month before the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 20, 1994, about 1504 hours eastern daylight time, N64628, a McLam Thorp T-18 homebuilt airplane, lost engine power during cruise flight and was forced landed on side of a highway at East Quogue, New York. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The departure point was Gabreski Airport, Westhampton Beach, New York. The local flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. This was the first time the airplane had been flown in about 4 years. The engine was overhauled and installed on May 31, 1994. The engine subsequently was ground operated for about 2 hours. The airplane was about five miles east of the airport when according to the pilot: "...my engine was starting to give me problems. I attempted to land back at (the airport) but found I could not make it. I decided to land it on an open area on the Sunrise Highway, due to wooded area. I was, at this point, going west and attempted to land on the westbound shoulder. My plane engine quit and I had to land the plane on the shoulder. I avoided all vehicles and as I landed, it flipped to the right." The National Transportation Safety Board had the aircraft examined by A&P Aircraft Maintenance Inc. of Brookhaven Airport and it was disclosed that the number four engine cylinder spark plugs were oil fouled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64628](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N64628-1999-02-10), registration cancelled 1999-02-10, S/N 825 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JONES THORP T-18 - Registry model: [Ciciora THORP T-18](https://openairdocs.org/model/ciciora-thorp-t-18) (registry code 8951003) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 825 - Airframe hours: 279 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Theodore Mclam, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 16, 1994, 2 hours before - Destination: FOK, WESTHAMPTON BCH, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,800 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FOK, 3 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 19940620048819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940620048819A), Jun 20, 1994: Amtrth THORPT18, East Quogue, NY, Substantial damage. Lost power on local flight. Landed on highway. Flipped over. First time flow in 4 years. Igniters were oil fouled. ## Other investigations on N64628 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC79FNA19](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC79FNA19), Jul 4, 1979: Ciciora T-18 (N64628), West Tisbury, MA, substantial damage 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.