Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C N3561H

Summary

On 26 September 1993 at about 18:50 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C registered N3561H was involved in an accident near Columbia, California, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 September 1993 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbia, California, United States

Nearest airport

Columbia (O22)

Coordinates

38.1109, -120.3810

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C

Registration

N3561H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Livermore

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX93LA374

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper use of the elevator control during the takeoff ground roll which resulted in a porpoise and nose gear collapse. A factor in the accident was the pilot's low total experience and lack of total time in type.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED THE AIRCRAFT AND HAD ONLY 6 HOURS IN TYPE. HE REPORTED THAT ON THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL AS THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED THROUGH 42 MPH INDICATED, THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO LIFTOFF. THE PILOT NOTED THAT HE HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO LIFT OFF AT 55 MPH, AND, 'NOT WANTING TO STALL OR MUSH,' HE APPLIED DOWN ELEVATOR TO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE, THEN VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AFTER THE COLLAPSE OF THE NOSE LANDING GEAR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.