Gillespie County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fredericksburg, Texas 78624
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 10:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he reduced engine power to slow the airplane for landing while on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. He then attempted to increase power and the engine did not respond. The pilot maneuvered the airplane immediately toward the runway and it floated during the landing. When the airplane touched down, there was insufficient distance remaining to stop on the runway. The airplane departed the end of the runway and the pilot intentionally ground-looped the airplane to stay on the airport property, causing substantial damage to both wings. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the clamp securing the throttle controller end was allowing the cable to slip freely.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The malfunction of the throttle clamp, which resulted in the pilot's inability to control the engine's power setting.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/13/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Fredericksburg
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78624
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301436N
Event Location Longitude 0985433W
Event Location Airport Gillespie County
Event Location Nearest Airport ID T82
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1695
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1005 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID T82
Elevation of weather observation facility 1695
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KT82 131505Z AUTO 03008KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A30
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27797
NTSB Notification Source SW ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2011 8:25AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N86TJ
NTSB Number CEN11CA030
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CONRAD THEODORE J
Aircraft Model THORP T-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number C-4602
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONRAD THEODORE J
Aircraft Owner Street Address 6274 WRANGLER LN
Aircraft Owner City SAN ANGELO
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76904-3300
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name CONRAD THEODORE J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 6274 WRANGLER LN
Operator City SAN ANGELO
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 76904-3300
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code TS65
Departure City San Angelo
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code T82
Destination City Fredericksburg
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 30 2011 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 5001
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --