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NTSB Report
December 13, 1984 · Hart-Thorp T-18 Tiger · N3WB
Tulare, CA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 13, 1984
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Tulare, CA
Aircraft
Hart-Thorp T-18 Tiger
Tail Number
N3WB
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX85FA068
ACFT DEPARTED ARPT & ABOUT 5 MINS LATER WAS SEEN 'DESCENDING VERTICALLY' OUT OF 'DARK RAIN CLOUD' AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL. DURING ATTEMPTED RECOVERY AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, ACFT BROKE UP & CRASHED IN A FIELD. PLT DID NOT OBTAIN WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO FLT AND DID NOT HOLD AN INSTRUEMENT RATING. WX AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 1,000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 2 IN FOG AND RAIN, WINDS CALM. WITNESSES REPORTED BASES OF CLOUDS WERE MOVING SE 'RAPIDLY' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WINDS ALOFT AT 3,000 FT WERE REPORTED AT 22 KTS. CUMULUS CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN VICINITY OF ACCIDENT SITE ALONG WITH MODERATE OR GREATER TURBULENCE. EXAMINATION OF ACFT REVEALED NO PRE-EXISTING PROBLEMS.
Full Narrative
ACFT DEPARTED ARPT & ABOUT 5 MINS LATER WAS SEEN 'DESCENDING VERTICALLY' OUT OF 'DARK RAIN CLOUD' AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL. DURING ATTEMPTED RECOVERY AT ABOUT 300 FT AGL, ACFT BROKE UP & CRASHED IN A FIELD. PLT DID NOT OBTAIN WX BRIEFING PRIOR TO FLT AND DID NOT HOLD AN INSTRUEMENT RATING. WX AT TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS 1,000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 2 IN FOG AND RAIN, WINDS CALM. WITNESSES REPORTED BASES OF CLOUDS WERE MOVING SE 'RAPIDLY' AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. WINDS ALOFT AT 3,000 FT WERE REPORTED AT 22 KTS. CUMULUS CLOUDS WERE REPORTED IN VICINITY OF ACCIDENT SITE ALONG WITH MODERATE OR GREATER TURBULENCE. EXAMINATION OF ACFT REVEALED NO PRE-EXISTING PROBLEMS.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 PST
Nearest Airport3nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftHart-Thorp T-18 Tiger
Tail NumberN3WB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1D · Reciprocating · 180
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 55 · Third Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility2 sm
CeilingOvercast 1000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time23:55
Weather SourceWFAC