# NTSB WPR22LA269: Miller-Thorp T-18 Tiger, N926WM, Angel Fire, NM, July 23, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2022, 10:33 local (16:33 UTC)
- Place: Angel Fire, NM · airport environment
- Coordinates: 36.422, -105.2899 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4220&lon=-105.2899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105573
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA269
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105573/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105573
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA269

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusting wind.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=89510T9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=89510T9), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=89510T9), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=89510T9), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll, he encountered a gusting left crosswind. He was unable to maintain directional control and the airplane veered off the runway to the left. The airplane subsequently collided with a drainage ditch and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N926WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N926WM-2023-05-09), registration cancelled 2023-05-09, S/N 279-1 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MILLER-THORP T-18 TIGER
- Registry model: [Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/miller-thorp-t-18-tiger) (registry code 89510T9) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 279-1
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 1825
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 14, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: KAXX, Angel Fire Airport, runway 35, 8,900 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 30, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,895 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,799 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.41 inHg
- Observed at: KAXX, 0.5 nm away
- METAR: KAXX 231635Z AUTO 29009KT 10SM CLR 22/10 A3041 RMK AO2 T02230104

## 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 20220723013019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220723013019A), Jul 23, 2022: Miller-Thorp T-18 TIGER, Angel Fire, NM, Substantial damage. On July 23, 2022, at 1033 MDT, a Miller-Thorp model T-18 tiger, single engine airplane, [privacy data omitted] was on a personal local flight from Angel Fire…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105573. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14303609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA269%20Pilot%20Report%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 576 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14244976&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR22LA269%20Photos-Rel.pdf

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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