Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C N99585

Summary

On 5 August 1992 at about 17:15 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C registered N99585, operated by Ryan, Terry W., was involved in an accident near Dunsmuir, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 August 1992 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunsmuir, California, United States

Nearest airport

Dunsmuir-Mott Municipal (1O6)

Coordinates

41.1900, -122.2607

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C

Registration

N99585

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ryan, Terry W.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Booneville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX92LA335

2 people were seriously injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PERFORM ANY PREFLIGHT PLANNING OR PREPARATION AND SELECTED THE WRONG RUNWAY. FACTORS RELATING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE EXISTING TAILWIND, HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM AN UPSLOPE RUNWAY WITH A 4 KNOT TAILWIND WITH A HEAVILY LOADED AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT USED ALL BUT A 100 FEET OF THE RUNWAY TO LIFT OFF. THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLIMB AFTER IT LIFTED OFF AND COLLIDED WITH A LARGE FIR TREE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREEXISTING MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE THROTTLE IN THE FULL POWER POSITION AND THE MIXTURE CONTROL IN THE FULL RICH POSITION. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS 5,900 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL AND THE RUNWAY'S GRADIENT WAS A PLUS 1.11 PERCENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.