Amateur-built T-18 accident near Chiriaco Summit, California, January 14, 2001
On January 14, 2001 at about 8:30 pm local time, a amateur-built T-18, registered N39JP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chiriaco Summit, California (Chiriaco Summit airport). It was an instructional 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 dual student's improper recovery from a bounced landing, his failure to maintain directional control during the go-around, and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the go-around attempt.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 2001 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Chiriaco Summit, California · Chiriaco Summit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-18
- Registration
- N39JP · registry record · serial 217
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane landed hard, bounced back into the air, and on the second landing departed the runway and struck desert brush. There were two CFI's on board the airplane. The purpose of the flight was to provide transition training culminating in a flight check for the pilot so he would be able to instruct the owner of the airplane. No problems were noted with the pilot's landings by the CFI, except they were a little bumpy. On the accident landing the airplane touched down hard. After the first bounce the pilot added power to straighten out and regain control of the airplane. When the airplane touched down the second time it departed the runway to the left coming to rest in desert brush. There were no problems noted with the airplane by either pilot. The airplane's brake system was inspected with no discrepancies noted.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 30 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 26, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,430 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,173 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 12, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 720 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 23, 2000; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,551 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UDD Bermuda Dunes CA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: L77 Chiriaco Summit CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 4,600 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:54 pm from TRM, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.