Ercoupe 415-C accident near Arcaida, FL
On August 13, 2008, an Ercoupe 415-C (airplane) was involved in an accident near Arcaida, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- August 13, 2008
- Place
- Arcaida, FL
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 27.207°N, 81.809°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080825X01306
Official records · MIA08LA164
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 13, 2008, at 1415 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N94339, incurred substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from a private airstrip (Southern Dreams Ranch) in Arcadia, Florida. The certificated commercial pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was operated by the commercial pilot, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. A witness stated to a DeSoto County Sheriff's Office representative that the pilot routinely flew into the property from Venice, Florida, where he was based. On the day of the accident, the witness observed the airplane depart toward the west, from the measured 1,200-foot long grass strip, which veered to the left. During the takeoff, it appeared to the witness that the airplane encountered a downdraft, causing it to lose altitude. The witness added that it looked like the pilot attempted to reestablish a climb, but was unable to clear an oak tree, which was located about 50 feet past and 20 feet left of the runway. The airplane clipped the tree at an estimated height of 30 feet above the ground, entered an uncontrolled descent while impacting several pine trees, and came to rest inverted on the ground with a section of the left wing separating from the airplane. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He was issued a second-class medical certificate in March 04, 2005, with a limitation of must have available glasses
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a proper climb rate after takeoff.
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Browse: Florida · Ercoupe 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.
