Amateur-built THORP T-18 accident near Wagoner, Oklahoma, September 13, 1997
On September 13, 1997 at about 6:40 pm local time, a amateur-built THORP T-18, registered N16LE, was destroyed in an accident near Wagoner, Oklahoma (Wagoner airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 1997 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wagoner, Oklahoma · Wagoner · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP T-18
- Registration
- N16LE · registry record · serial 1083
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After about 40 minutes of local flight, the airplane entered into a left downwind for runway 17. Reported winds were from 130 at 10 knots. Several witnesses observed the airplane in a left traffic pattern on the base leg for runway 17. One of the witnesses, who was a pilot, stated that he observed the airplane 'overshoot' the runway on base leg, saw the left wing go 'down', and then saw the airplane 'stall.' The other witness observed the airplane make a 'very steep' left turn toward the runway, heard the engine 'power up' during the turn, and then saw the airplane's left wing 'drop dramatically.' Subsequently, the airplane descended uncontrolled into a lake, located southeast of the approach end of runway 17. A stall strip was not found installed on the aircraft.
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
- Flight time: 2,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,560 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H68 at 6:00 pm
- Destination: H68
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KMK, 18 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.