Amateur-built THORP T-18 accident near Lubbock, Texas, November 17, 1985
On November 17, 1985 at about 7:47 pm local time, a amateur-built THORP T-18, registered N4715, was destroyed in an accident near Lubbock, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- November 17, 1985 · about 7:47 pm local time
- Place
- Lubbock, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP T-18
- Registration
- N4715 · no longer on the register · serial 421 RHL
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TERRAIN IN A 75 TO 85 DEG NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE PLT WAS REPORTEDLY CIRCLING A FRIEND'S HOUSE AT AN ALT OF 800 TO 1000 FT AGL WHEN THE ACFT STALLED, ENTERED A SPIN AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT.
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: 669 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 606 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 1985; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q24 Levelland TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:03 pm from LBB, 6 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.