Casualties unknown

2005-12-11: Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415C (N99009) — Wiersdale, FL

Wiersdale, FL, US

On December 11, 2005, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415C (registration N99009) was involved in an aviation accident near Wiersdale, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper planning and failure to abort the takeoff in sufficient time which resulted in the airplane overrunning the runway and nosing over. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that during takeoff on a soggy turf runway, the airplane decelerated through soft spots and struck a drainage ditch, becoming airborne briefly before nosing over down a bank.

Accident Details

A pilot reported an accident during an attempted takeoff from a soggy turf runway that had received approximately 24 hours of rain. The pilot stated that he did not use all the available runway and attempted the takeoff uphill. He noted that the runway conditions restricted acceleration, and as he progressively expected to become airborne, the airplane would transit through a soft spot on the runway and decelerate.

Sequence of Events

The pilot acknowledged that he should have aborted the takeoff sooner but did not. When he finally applied the brakes and attempted to stop, the airplane probably hit a drainage ditch. After striking the ditch, the airplane became airborne for a short time prior to hitting the ground, then proceeded down a bank and nosed over.

Pilot Comments

The pilot stated that the acceleration was limited due to the soggy runway, and the presence of soft spots caused deceleration during the takeoff roll. He indicated that he realized the situation required an abort but delayed the action. The pilot's account did not specify any other factors or conditions.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20060111X00052. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.