Amateur-built T-18 accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 1, 1992
On March 1, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built T-18, registered N48DD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico (Albuquerque International 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
A FAILURE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT FOR AN INADVERTENT GROUND LOOP DURING LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Albuquerque, New Mexico · Albuquerque International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-18
- Registration
- N48DD · registry record · serial 958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT INADVERTENTLY ENTERED A GROUND LOOP. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED RUDDER INPUT TO CORRECT FOR THE GROUND LOOP, THE RUDDER CONTROL MIXING UNIT IN THE EMPENNAGE SHIFTED AND JAMMED THE RUDDER. CONTINUED PRESSURE ON THE RUDDER PEDALS BY THE PILOT FRACTURED THE LEFT RUDDER PEDAL AT THE CROSSOVER BAR. THE AIRCRAFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND DURING THE EVOLUTION CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 980 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 244 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 30, 1991; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,733 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1FGP (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COS Colorado Spring CO at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 9,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N48DD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.