Amateur-built THORP T-18 and Piper PA-28R-200 mid-air collision near Corona, California, September 10, 1988
On September 10, 1988 at about 2:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built THORP T-18 (N45BH) and Piper PA-28R-200 (N56243), were involved in a mid-air collision near Corona, California (Corona airport). 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 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
- September 10, 1988 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Corona, California · Corona
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built THORP T-18
- Registration
- N45BH · registry record · serial T515
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N56243 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7335388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built THORP T-18 final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN A THORP T-18 AND A PIPER COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. THE PIPER STRUCK THE THORP FROM ABOVE AT APRX 10 FT AGL OVER THE THRESHOLD. THE THORP LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PIPER COMPLETED A NORMAL LANDING UNTIL THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF FROM CONTACTING THE PROPELLER OF THE THORP. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED HAVING SEEN THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PIPER DID NOT HAVE OPERABLE RADIOS AND THE PIPER PILOT REPORTED FLYING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN 300 FT HIGHER THAN PUBLISHED.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28R-200 final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN A THORP T-18 AND A PIPER COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. THE PIPER STRUCK THE THORP FROM ABOVE AT APRX 10 FT AGL OVER THE THRESHOLD. THE THORP LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE PIPER COMPLETED A NORMAL LANDING UNTIL THE PROPELLER CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR WAS SHEARED OFF FROM CONTACTING THE PROPELLER OF THE THORP. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED HAVING SEEN THE OTHER AIRPLANE. THE PIPER DID NOT HAVE OPERABLE RADIOS AND THE PIPER PILOT REPORTED FLYING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN 300 FT HIGHER THAN PUBLISHED.
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 for the amateur-built THORP T-18 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 906 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 42 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 23, 1988; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28R-200 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,350 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 N45BH the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.