On May 28, 1994, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415-E (registration N3200H) was involved in an aviation accident near Warrenton, VA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff on a grass runway due to inexperience with the surface type and aircraft performance characteristics. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot with limited time in the Ercoupe type aborted a takeoff roll due to poor acceleration, causing the aircraft to veer off a grass runway and nose over.
What happened
During the takeoff roll, the pilot experienced unexpected performance from the 1946 Ercoupe, noting that the aircraft was not accelerating as anticipated. Due to this discrepancy in acceleration, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff procedure. During the abort maneuver, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the pilot had accumulated a total of 21 hours of experience specifically in the Ercoupe aircraft. All previous flights conducted in this type were performed on hard surface runways. This event marked the pilot's first departure from a grass strip while operating this specific airplane.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the incident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with takeoff performance characteristics on grass surfaces. The decision to abort, combined with the different ground handling dynamics of the grass strip compared to hard pavement, led to the loss of directional control and the subsequent nose-over. The pilot's limited experience in this specific aircraft type on unimproved runways played a significant role in the outcome.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff on a grass runway due to inexperience with the surface type and aircraft performance characteristics.