Thorp T-18 accident near Connellsville, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1982
On July 21, 1982 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Thorp T-18, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N62RB, was destroyed in an accident near Connellsville, Pennsylvania. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- July 21, 1982 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Connellsville, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thorp T-18, amateur-built · all T-18s on the register
- Registration
- N62RB · no longer on the register · serial 731
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE THE STUDENT WAS TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 TO 400 FT AGL. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) TOOK CONTROL AND INITIATED A TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. HE STATED THAT DUE TO THE VIBRATION, HE HAD TO REDUCE THE POWER, AND WITH THE POWER REDUCTION, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE AIRPORT. WHILE MAKING A FORCED LANDING, DOWNHILL ON SOFT TERRAIN, THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE METAL LEADING EDGE PORTION OF THE PROPELLER TIP HAD SEPARATED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A WOODEN SENSENICH 66LN74 PROPELLER.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,696 hours in all; 19 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 1,576 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 246 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Connellsville PA at 5:40 pm
- Destination: Connellsville PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.