Amateur-built THORPE T-18 accident near Lee Vining, California, June 9, 1984
On June 9, 1984 at about 4:00 pm local time, a amateur-built THORPE T-18, registered N147DS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lee Vining, California (Lee Vining 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 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
- June 9, 1984 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lee Vining, California · Lee Vining · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORPE T-18 THORPE T-1
- Registration
- N147DS · registry record · serial 439
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING A LANDING IN CALM AIR, THE ACFT BEGAN VEERING RIGHT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES. HE CORRECTED WITH LEFT RUDDER & BRAKE, THEN THE ACFT VEERED LEFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY, WENT DOWN A GRADE & NOSED OVER. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS ACFT & SUGGESTED THAT HE OVER-CORRECTED WHEN HE APPLIED LEFT RUDDER & BRAKE. THE ARPT ELEV WAS 6802 FT.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,950 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APC Napa CA at 2:45 pm
- Destination: O24 Lee Vining CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 4,090 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 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.