Thorp T-18 accident near Neosho, Missouri, July 30, 1982
On July 30, 1982 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Thorp T-18, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N75A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neosho, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- July 30, 1982 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Neosho, Missouri
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thorp T-18, amateur-built · all T-18s on the register
- Registration
- N75A · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AFTER IT ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A LANDING. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CLOSE IN ON A BASE LEG AS THE PILOT BEGAN A TURN TO FINAL APPROACH. HE ESTIMATED THAT THE PILOT WAS IN A 60 DEG TURN AT ABOUT 150 FT AGL, AND WAS NEITHER CLIMBING NOR DESCENDING, WHEN THE RIGHT WING DROPPED AND THE PLANE NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE.
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: 1,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 113 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sherman TX at 7:00 am
- Destination: Kelso WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N75A 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.