N3715

Substantial
Minor

Hammer Thorp T-18S/N: 66

Accident Details

Date
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
NTSB Number
SEA07CA185
Location
Everett, WA
Event ID
20070723X00995
Coordinates
47.910278, -122.289443
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

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.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3715
Make
HAMMER
Serial Number
66
Year Built
1969
Model / ICAO
Thorp T-18

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
HAMMER ROBERT H
Address
4723 110TH AVE NE
Status
Deregistered
City
KIRKLAND
State / Zip Code
WA 98033
Country
United States

Analysis

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.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# SEA07CA185