Amateur-built Thorp T-18 accident near Everett, Washington, June 26, 2007
On June 26, 2007 at about 9:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Thorp T-18, registered N3715, was substantially damaged in an accident near Everett, Washington (Snohomish County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Excessive airspeed during a return for landing which resulted in an overrun. An unlatched canopy, a proper touchdown point not attained and rough terrain were factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 2007 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Everett, Washington · Snohomish County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Thorp T-18
- Registration
- N3715 · no longer on the register · serial 66
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the takeoff on runway 34L seemed normal until he raised the flaps. The pilot then heard a "big bang [that] shook the entire airplane" and he noticed that the canopy had come unlatched. Concerned that the canopy could possibly depart the aircraft and damage the tail, the pilot declared an emergency and circled left to land on runway 11. The pilot aligned the aircraft with the runway, but the airplane's airspeed was excessive for a normal touchdown point. When the pilot realized that he was "too fast", he pulled the throttle to idle and pulled the mixture out to stop the engine. The aircraft did not touchdown until it reached the numbers at the departure end of the runway. During the landing roll, the aircraft rolled across taxiway Golf, runway 16L-34R, and taxiway Foxtrot. The aircraft continued to roll off the taxiway surface, through the airport perimeter fence and onto a public street, where it encountered uneven terrain and nosed over, coming to rest upside down.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,567 hours in all; 251 in this make and model; 1,567 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 251 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,440 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAE Everett WA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: PAE Everett WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.