Amateur-built THORP-18 accident near Jerome, Idaho, September 10, 2010
On September 10, 2010 at about 9:45 pm local time, a amateur-built THORP-18, registered N330JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Jerome, Idaho (Jerome County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in gusty crosswinds.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 2010 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Jerome, Idaho · Jerome County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built THORP-18
- Registration
- N330JH · registry record · serial 1058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported he was landing his tail wheel-equipped airplane in almost direct crosswinds that were 11 knots, gusting to 18 knots. Soon after touchdown, he lost directional control. The airplane subsequently departed the side of the runway, and entered an area of grass covered soft terrain. As the airplane continued a left turn in the soft terrain, the right main landing gear collapsed inward due to an overload failure. The right wing contacted the surface and was substantially damaged. The pilot further stated the he did not believe there had been any anomalies associated with the airplane's flight control or tail wheel steering systems.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main gear strut/axle/truck › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 18, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 135 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 20, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGND La Grande OR at 8:30 pm
- Destination: KJER Jerome ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 11 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR10LA457.