Amateur-built THORPE T-18 accident near Alamosa, Colorado, July 26, 1985
On July 26, 1985, a amateur-built THORPE T-18, registered N633GG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alamosa, Colorado (Alamosa Muni/Bergman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1985
- Place
- Alamosa, Colorado · Alamosa Muni/Bergman · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORPE T-18 THORPE T-1
- Registration
- N633GG · registry record · serial 1098
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF THE AMATEUR BUILT ACFT WAS ON A FLT TO ASHKOSH, WI WITH AN EN ROUTE STOP AT PUEBLO, CO. DUE TO WX IN THE PUEBLO AREA, HE DIVERTED TO ALAMOSA, CO. ON HIS 1ST APCH TO LAND ON RWY 20, HE MADE A GO-AROUND. ON HIS 2ND APCH, THE ACFT LANDED LONG & AT HIGH SPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, WENT OFF THE RWY & WAS DAMAGED. THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS RELATIVELY INEXPERIENCE AT FLYING TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT, WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH HIGH ALT ARPT LANDINGS & HAD 'JUST LOST IT.'
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: 252 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 177 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 495 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 12, 1985; 495 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PGA Page AZ at 10:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 20, 8,499 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from DEN, 137 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.