Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D N93971

Summary

On 25 May 2003 at about 20:48 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D registered N93971 was involved in an accident near Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 May 2003 at 20:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Los Lunas, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Mid Valley Airpark (E98)

Coordinates

34.7525, -106.7358

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D

Registration

N93971

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Artesia → Los Lunas

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03FA087

2 people died.

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the transmission wire. Contributing factors were the high wind, the pilot's decision to make a low-altitude turn onto the crosswind leg, and the power line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to one witness, the airplane passed over the airpark and entered on a left downwind leg for landing. When the airplane turned onto final approach, it was crabbing about 45 degrees into a strong, gusty, right crosswind. The wings were "wobbling." The witness called the pilot on the radio and suggested that he abandon the approach, and maneuver to land on the closed crosswind runway (it was closed because it was used only as a taxiway). The pilot acknowledged. Another witness saw the airplane nose pitch up, then it made a tight left-hand turn onto the crosswind leg and collided with power lines. Other witnesses in the area said there were rain showers and hail "the size of a quarter." The power lines consisted of 6 conductors and 2 static lines. The lower of the two static lines (#38 EHS, stainless steel, 0.36 inches in diameter), bore paint scrapes of the same color as the airplane's wing. This part of the wire was 55 feet, 10 inches above the ground.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.