Amateur-built THORP T-18 accident near Morrilton, Arkansas, April 12, 1998
On April 12, 1998, a amateur-built THORP T-18, registered N18WX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morrilton, Arkansas (Petit Jean Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 12, 1998
- Place
- Morrilton, Arkansas · Petit Jean Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP T-18
- Registration
- N18WX · registry record · serial 1180
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing roll on runway 20, the aircraft abruptly veered left and departed the runway impacting a tree. The pilot reported that 'very little' cross wind correction was required during the landing. During the landing roll, he held the tail off until it came down 'normally.' A short distance after the tail wheel touched down the aircraft started to veer to the left. 'Normal amount of correction (right rudder) was totally ineffective.' The aircraft departed the left side of the runway with 'full right rudder, right brake locked, and stick full back.' The aircraft was recovering to the right when it slid into a tree. The pilot reported that the wind was from 170 degrees at 4 to 5 knots. His examination of the aircraft after the event did not reveal any mechanical problems with the flight controls. The pilot had accumulated at total of 99 hours in his tailwheel equipped airplane.
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: 1,137 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,097 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 99 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 1997; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUE Russellville AR at 1:00 am
- Destination: MPJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,853 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots, gusting 6
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.