Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C N2069H

Summary

On 17 August 1991 at about 21:00 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C registered N2069H, operated by Walter J. Smith, was involved in an accident near Anaconda, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 1991 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Anaconda, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Anaconda (3U3)

Coordinates

46.1193, -112.9708

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C

Registration

N2069H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Walter J. Smith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA91LA211

Nobody was injured.

AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND A PREMATURE LIFTOFF BY THE PILOT WERE FACTORS.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE AIRPORT WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 7500-8000 FEET UNDER NO WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY FUELED AND NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE PILOT DID NOT ADJUST THE FUEL/PASSENGER LOAD TO COMPENSATE. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE AIRSPEED DECAYED BELOW STALL SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND DESCENDED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE STALL TO ENABLE THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.