Culbertson THORP T-18 N353

Summary

On 7 August 1996 at about 18:15 local time, a Culbertson THORP T-18 registered N353 was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 1996 at 18:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Double Eagle (AEG)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Culbertson THORP T-18

Registration

N353

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bullhead City → Las Vegas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96FA337

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering. Factors were the high winds and the high density altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.