On June 29, 1997, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C (registration N2308H) was involved in an aviation accident near Ardmore, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power line. Factors were his improper decision to continue the flight after he noted a loss of engine power during initial takeoff climb and the loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a forced landing following a loss of engine power, an airplane struck a power line and impacted the ground. The pilot had noticed power loss during initial climb but continued the flight.
Incident Details
A forced landing occurred after a loss of engine power, during which the airplane collided with a power line and then impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the engine was not producing full power during the initial takeoff climb but elected to proceed on the cross-country flight. The engine continued to lose power, and approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, the power available was insufficient to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to land in the median of an interstate highway but did not see the power line crossing the highway.
Examination Findings
Examination of the airplane revealed that the mixture control arm on the carburetor was not connected to the cockpit control cable and was free to move. However, the mixture control system on that model of carburetor does not incorporate an idle cutoff. The pilot reported that prior to the accident, the flight had been conducted for 58 hours with the mixture control inoperative. No other discrepancies were noted that would have resulted in a loss of engine power.