Finney Thorp T-18 N467JF

Summary

On 26 August 2010 at about 16:20 local time, a Finney Thorp T-18 registered N467JF, operated by Glen Slagoske, was involved in an accident near Willcox, Arizona, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 August 2010 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Willcox, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Cochise County (P33)

Coordinates

32.2456, -109.8947

Aircraft

Finney Thorp T-18

Registration

N467JF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Glen Slagoske

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Diego → Willcox

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR10LA429

2 people died.

The pilot’s failure to maintain sufficient airspeed during a steep turn and at a low altitude in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was observed in the traffic pattern, about 500 feet above ground level, when it made a steep left turn to enter the downwind leg. The turn continued as the airplane entered a left descending spiral until it impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. The Pilot Operating Handbook for the airplane indicated that the airplane has an abrupt stall with a tendency to drop a wing, especially if the airplane is in an uncoordinated turn during the stall. There is very little warning preceding the stall. Stall recovery can be quickly affected by releasing back pressure on the stick; however, a secondary stall may occur if the stick is brought back abruptly after recovery without sufficient airspeed. It is likely that during the initial steep turn, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall from which the pilot was unable to recover at the low altitude.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.