Bosonetto THORP T-18 N8AL

Summary

On 29 June 2011 at about 23:15 local time, a Bosonetto THORP T-18 registered N8AL was involved in an accident near Howell, Michigan, 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

29 June 2011 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Howell, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Livingston County Airport (OZW)

Coordinates

42.6236, -83.9686

Aircraft

Bosonetto THORP T-18

Registration

N8AL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1982

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Plymouth → Howell

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11FA431

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control and airspeed during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at a low altitude.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the accident flight was for the pilot to obtain a flight review in the airplane that he owned. A witness reported seeing the airplane at a higher-than-normal glidepath to the runway and traveling at a slow airspeed while in a forward-slip maneuver. (A forward slip is a flight maneuver used to increase the descent rate, while maintaining airplane pitch and airspeed.) The witness stated that, while the airplane was in the forward slip and losing altitude, it suddenly entered a right spin and descended out of his view. Another witness reported seeing the airplane yawing side-to-side as it approached the runway and then hearing the engine increase to full power as the airplane simultaneously pitched up. The airplane then nosed over and descended into his front yard. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The low-altitude stall/spin encountered during final approach was likely not recoverable. Toxicological testing revealed the presence of several medications in both the pilot and flight instructor; however, it is not likely that they resulted in any impairment.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.