Amateur-built T-18 accident near Coalinga, California, November 2, 2003
On November 2, 2003 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built T-18, registered N66MY, was substantially damaged in an accident near Coalinga, California (Harris Ranch Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and hi failure to maintain directional control during landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2003 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Coalinga, California · Harris Ranch Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-18
- Registration
- N66MY · no longer on the register · serial 588-D
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane veered off the runway during landing rollout and nosed over. A pilot witness reported that during final approach to the runway, the airplane's airspeed was faster than normal. After touchdown, the airplane bounced down the runway, and began to veer to the left. The pilot experienced a loss of control, and the airplane continued off the runway, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. Police officers at the scene estimated that the winds were from 140 degrees at 5 knots.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O -290 Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMX Santa Maria CA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 3O8 Coalinga CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,820 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from NLC, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N66MY the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N66MY: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Engine: Lycoming O -290 Series 2,126 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Harris Ranch Airport · nearest airport
- Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,098 in the last ten years
- California 27,686 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N66MY 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX04LA033.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.