SEA96LA065

NTSB accident investigation · Nicholson Thorp T18CWS · Grantsville, UT · February 28, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 27, 1996, 17:20 local (Feb 28, 1996, 00:20 UTC)
Place
Grantsville, UT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N24WNNicholson Thorp T18CWS
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19960227003169A
Case key
42342

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a powerline. A transmission wire and an oil pressure reading of zero were factors.

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.

In flight collision with objectGo-around (vfr)
Engine instruments,oil pressure gage - low pressureFactor
Precautionary landing - performedPilot in commandFactor
Object - wire,transmissionFactor
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot reported that while flying at 600 feet above ground level, he noticed that there was no oil pressure indication. He attempted a precautionary landing to a paved road, but had to initiate a go-around because of a truck on the road. During the go-around, the airplane collided with a power line that was approximately 100 feet AGL. The airplane was unable to maintain flight and subsequently collided with the terrain.

Factual narrative

On February 27, 1996, at 1720 mountain standard time, a homebuilt Nicholson Thorp T18CWS, N24WN, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with power lines during a precautionary landing, approximately 25 miles west of Grantsville, Utah. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from Wendover, Utah, about 30 minutes before the accident.

During an interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he was flying one of three planes in a flight en route to Salt Lake City, Utah. The pilot stated that while flying at approximately 600 feet above ground level, he noticed there was no oil pressure. The pilot initiated a precautionary landing to a paved road and noted that there was a truck on the road, but felt that it would be out of the way by the time he landed. The truck, however, was not clear and the pilot initiated a go- around. During the go-around, the airplane collided with a transmission line that was approximately 100 feet above ground level. The airplane was unable to maintain flight and subsequently collided with the terrain.

Aircraft

Registration
N24WN
Reported as
Nicholson Thorp T18CWS (THORP T18C)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
1424
Airframe hours
429
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
William L. Nicholson
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · June 12, 1995 · 131 hours before
Departed
ENV · Wendover, UT
Destination
U42 · Salt Lake City, UT

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
55
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,930 total · 429 in this make and model · 1,706 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 13 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
180° at 2 knots
Visibility
30 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
32 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N24WN · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.