Amateur-built THORP T-18 accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin, September 2, 1994
On September 2, 1994 at about 2:00 am local time, a amateur-built THORP T-18, registered N2911, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat in carburetor icing conditions. A factor associated with the accident is the prevailing carburetor icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1994 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Kenosha, Wisconsin · Kenosha
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP T-18
- Registration
- N2911 · registry record · serial 86
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER LIFTOFF. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND THE AIRPLANE ON THE LAST 400' FEET OF RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE END AND NOSED-OVER. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND AIRFRAME DISCOVERED NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES. THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND ACCELERATED TO A STATIC RPM OF 2200 WITH NO OBSERVED DEFICIENCIES. FIFTEEN MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, A WEATHER REPORTING STATION 13 MILES SOUTH OF THE ACCIDENT SITE RECORDED A TEMPERATURE OF 50 DEGREES F., AND A DEWPOINT OF 47 DEGREES F. THIS TEMPERATURE/DEWPOINT COMBINATION FALLS IN THE SERIOUS ICING CATEGORY ON A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART. THE PILOT REPORTED HE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ATTEMPT AN ENGINE RESTART OR TO USE THE CARBURETOR HEAT CONTROL AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 950 hours in all; 650 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 29, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6R, 4,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from UGN, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.