White THORPE T 18 accident near Cleburne, Texas, March 14, 2018
On March 14, 2018 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2008 White THORPE T 18, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N118RG, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cleburne, Texas (Blackwood Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 14, 2018 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cleburne, Texas · Blackwood Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- White THORPE T 18, built 2008, amateur-built
- Registration
- N118RG · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that the engine was running roughly after he departed on the local flight; after troubleshooting to no avail, he decided to return to the airport. He stated that he "mistakenly landed in a pasture, short of the runway," and the airplane struck a tree. Although the pilot reported that the fuel line was not feeding fuel to the engine, he also reported that he believed he ran out of fuel; examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of fuel. Because of the pilot's belief that he ran out of fuel and the lack of evidence of fuel at the accident site, it is likely that the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 780.9 hours in all; 5.2 in this make and model; 0.2 in the last 90 days; 0.2 in the last 30 days; 780.9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 70 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 17, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 559 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX46 Cleburne TX at 8:45 pm
- Destination: TX46 Cleburne TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 9:35 pm from KCPT, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on August 7, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary -- Inspector Greg Sheehan | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record – Communication Summary --- Inspector Greg Sheehan | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photos - FAA Supplied Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.