Ercoupe 415 C N93606
14 August 2015 · Fairmont, West Virginia, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 14 August 2015 at about 18:30 local time, a Ercoupe 415 C registered N93606, operated by Clem Robert J, was involved in an accident near Fairmont, West Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fairmont, West Virginia, United States
- Nearest airport
- Fairmont Municipal Airport (4G7)
- Coordinates
- 39.4478, -80.1675
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415 C
- Registration
- N93606
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1946
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Clem Robert J
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fairmont → Fairmont
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA15CA317
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his exceedance of the wing's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent collision with terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff he noticed that there was no movement on the header tank fuel float gauge. He went on to say that the fuel float gauge then started to move "down quickly", and since he still had the airport insight, he decided to turn back and conduct a precautionary landing. As he approached for landing he "raised" the nose of the airplane to slow down; but became "too low and too slow" and the airplane collided with a road adjacent to the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Examination of the fuel float gauge by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies. In addition, the pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Ercoupe 415 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 2015 | Ercoupe 415 | Saint Martin Island, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2015 | Ercoupe 415-C | Alexandria, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Mar 2015 | Ercoupe 415 C | St Jacob, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 27 Jul 2014 | Ercoupe 415 C | Susanville, California, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Oct 2016 | Ercoupe 415 | Lindenwold, New Jersey, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 Aug 2016 | Ercoupe 415 | Eminence, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jul 2015 | Piper J3C 65 | Southside, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Dec 2015 | Cirrus SR20 | Charles Town, West Virginia, United States | Atlantic Airways | No injuries | - |
| 10 Nov 2014 | Mooney M20C | Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States | STONEMAN EXCAVATING Co. INC | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jun 2014 | CubCrafters CC18-180 | Pennsboro, West Virginia, United States | Terry A Hall | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jan 2016 | Eurocopter France EC 130 B4 | Shoals, West Virginia, United States | Air Methods Corporation | No injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2016 | Hirn Associates ZODIAC CH601XL | Hedgesville, West Virginia, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |