Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415CD N3504H

Summary

On 9 April 1990 at about 18:45 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415CD registered N3504H, operated by Clyde, David N, was involved in an accident near Hereford, Texas, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

9 April 1990 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Hereford, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Hereford (HRX)

Coordinates

34.8200, -102.3892

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415CD

Registration

N3504H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Clyde, David N

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Amarillo

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW90FA092

1 person died.

INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT, THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO DRUGS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE LOW AND MOVING VERY SLOW WHEN THE NOSE PITCHED STRAIGHT DOWN AND CONTINUED IN THAT ATTITUDE TO IMPACT IN A NEAR VERITCAL ATTITUDE. AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED AFTER IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE WAS 22 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS AT THE MOST AFT LIMIT. THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR DIAZEPAM, NORDIAZEPAM, FENFLURAMINE, AND DIPHENHYDRAMINE. ACCORDING TO THE REGIONAL FLIGHT SURGEON'S OFFICE THESE DRUGS 'MAY HAVE INFLUENCED THE CEREBRATION REFLEX AND THE FUNCTION OF OPERATION MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED, ALTERING JUDGMENT, AND COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.' IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.