Amateur-built THORP-T-18 accident near Tampa, Florida, January 31, 1983
On January 31, 1983, a amateur-built THORP-T-18, registered N679JB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tampa, Florida (Tampa-Vandenberg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- January 31, 1983
- Place
- Tampa, Florida · Tampa-Vandenberg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP-T-18
- Registration
- N679JB · registry record · serial 679
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT DURING TAKEOFF AND COLLIDED WITH A VASI LIGHT. THE PILOT STATED TO A WITNESS THAT HE KNEW HE WAS GOING LEFT BUT THOUGHT HE WOULD BE AIRBORNE BEFORE LEAVING THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT RUDDER CABLE WAS FRAYED AND BROKE SOMETIME IN THE TAKEOFF SEQUENCE. THE PILOT FLEW TO TAMPA INTERNAT'L AND LANDED WHERE THE ACFT GROUNDLOOPED DURINGLANDING DUE TO DAMAGE INCURRED IN THE VASI COLLISION.
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: 1,115 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 609 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 22, 1982; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: VLD Valdosta GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,260 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
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.