Ercoupe 415 accident near Fitzgerald, GA
On September 13, 2023, an Ercoupe 415 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fitzgerald, GA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 13, 2023
- Place
- Fitzgerald, GA
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 31.720°N, 83.245°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230913193060
Official records · ERA23FA370
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- NTSB Memorandum For Record - Air Traffic Control Subject Matter Expert Assistance With Investigation: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn September 13, 2023, about 1654 eastern daylight time, an Engineering and Research Corporation Ercoupe 415-C, N2796H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fitzgerald Municipal Airport (FZG), Fitzgerald, Georgia. The private pilot was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The passenger, who held a student pilot certificate, reported he was interested in buying the airplane, which the private pilot owned. The passenger said that the private pilot told him the day before the accident that the airplane’s annual inspection was just completed and to come to the airport the next day to go flying. The passenger reported that, after arriving on the accident date, the private pilot told him that “we” had flown the airplane earlier that day but did not indicate who was with him on that flight. The passenger stated that, before the accident flight, the pilot did a “walk around” inspection that included a check of the wings, lights, empennage, and control surfaces. They both boarded the airplane, and the passenger occupied the right seat but was not aware the airplane was equipped with lap belts, so he did not wear any restraint. The passenger also stated that the airplane did not have a canopy and that he did not wear a headset. After the engine was started, the pilot taxied to the approach end of the runway. The passenger stated that he questioned the pilot about the need for an engine run-up but the pilot told him it wa
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to perform pre-takeoff engine runup and carburetor heat check procedures, which resulted in rotation with inadequate climb performance, and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall or mush shortly after takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engin
More accidents in GA
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Apr 5, 1991
- Cessna 208, Sep 29, 1985
- Beech 400, Dec 11, 1991
- Embraer EMB-120RT, Aug 21, 1995
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-30, Apr 20, 1982
Browse: Georgia · 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.
