ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 36487
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| Date: | Wednesday 7 August 1996 |
| Time: | 12:15 LT |
| Type: |  Thorp T-18 |
| Owner/operator: | Howard C. Culbertson |
| Registration: | N353 |
| MSN: | 198 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2114 hours |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-290-D4 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Albuquerque, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Bullhead City, AZ (P06 |
| Las Vegas, NM (KLVS) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot was on the second leg of a cross-country flight, and was observed maneuvering near an airport not on his planned itinerary. The airport UNICOM was reported operational, but no radio calls were received from the airplane. Witnesses reported that the airplane executed two erratic 360-degree turns near the approach end of runways 17 and 22 at an estimated altitude of 300 feet AGL. The winds were reported in excess of 30 MPH. The wreckage was found approximately 1,100 feet short of the landing threshold for runway 22, slightly left of the extended centerline. Physical evidence and ground scars indicated that the airplane impacted the ground in a slight left turn and in a nose-low attitude. Measurement of the crush angle in the area aft of the engine compartment indicated a 25-degree nose-down attitude at impact. Examination of the airframe and powerplant at the accident site did not disclose any mechanical problems that could have prevented normal operations. The density altitude was 8,800 feet. The pilot was not restrained prior to ground impact.
Probable Cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering. Factors were the high winds and the high density altitude.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB FTW96FA337
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:23 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 09-Apr-2024 05:04 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Accident report] |
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