Ercoupe 415-C N2421H

Summary

On 30 September 2000 at about 22:27 local time, a Ercoupe 415-C registered N2421H was involved in an accident near Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2000 at 22:27

Classification

Accident

Location

Tucumcari, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Tucumcari (TCC)

Coordinates

35.1595, -103.7201

Aircraft

Ercoupe 415-C

Registration

N2421H

Category

Airplane

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN00LA183

2 people died.

loss of control during initial climb following takeoff by an unqualified person.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Two people, a father and son, were hired by the airplane owner to mow grass at the airport in preparation for an upcoming air show. Without the airplane owner's permission, they took the airplane, taxied to the fueling station, had the airplane fueled, and taxied to takeoff. During initial climb following takeoff, at about 150 feet above ground level, the wings were observed to "wobble" and the airplane entered a vertical dive. The airplane then impacted the ground beside the runway and burst into flames. Neither of the occupants had any pilot training or experience.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.