Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Olustee, OK
On May 6, 1998, an Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Olustee, OK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 6, 1998
- Place
- Olustee, OK
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 34.540°N, 99.419°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10049
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 5, 1998, approximately 2035 central daylight time, an Engineering & Research 415-C (Ercoupe) airplane, N87125, owned and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground in an uncontrolled descent at the Olustee Municipal Airport near Olustee, Oklahoma. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 local personal flight. The student pilot sustained serious injuries, and his passenger was fatally injured. The flight had originated from the Olustee Municipal Airport, about 5 minutes before the accident. During a personal interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) and on the enclosed statements, the student pilot reported that he had completed 2 or 3 touch and go landings to runway 35. During the following takeoff, while turning left crosswind, the aircraft "shuddered" and entered what he believed was a "slip stall." He "vaguely" remembered struggling to recover the aircraft from the stall and seeing the end of the runway over his left shoulder and thinking "we have got to get back over there." Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the ground. The pilot reported that at 1700, he left work and proceeded directly home, which is approximately 0.9 mile from his office. When he arrived home, his brother, who is an electrician, was waiting for him, along with one of his brother's employees. They were there to correct an electrical problem with the house's electrical system. At this time his brother offered him a beer, which he accepted and drank.
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper decision to attempt an 180 degree turn to return to the takeoff runway.
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Browse: Oklahoma · Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
