Durkota THORP T-18 N83GD

Summary

On 19 March 1986 at about 22:25 local time, a Durkota THORP T-18 registered N83GD, operated by Joseph E. Joiner, was involved in an accident near Lakeland, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

19 March 1986 at 22:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Lakeland, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Lakeland (LAL)

Coordinates

28.0097, -81.9290

Aircraft

Durkota THORP T-18

Registration

N83GD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Joseph E. Joiner

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Hollywood

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA86FA101

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

WITNESSES OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE HOMEBUILT ACFT DURING TAKEOFF & INITIAL CLIMB. THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO CLIMB TO AN ESTIMATED ALT OF 150 TO 200 FT WHERE ENG SOUND CEASED & THE PROP STOPPED. THE ACFT WAS THEN OBSERVED TO ATTEMPT A LEFT TURN BACK TOWARD THE RWY. DURING THE TURN, THE NOSE CAME UP & WITNESSES STATED THAT THE ACFT STALLED ABOUT ONE-HALF WAY THROUGH THE TURN & CRASHED TO THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE COCKPIT REVEALED THAT THE HAND ACTUATED FUEL PRIMER WAS IN THE UNLOCKED & OUT POSITION. A REVIEW OF THE ACFT'S CHECKLISTS FAILED TO REVEAL ANY REFERENCE TO ENSURING THAT THE PRIMER IS IN & LOCKED AFTER ENGINE START.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.