No fatalities

Pilot Reports Wind Shear During Takeoff Leading to Tree Impact

Cedarburg, WI, United States

On August 2, 2008, an Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C operated by JAMES B. BRENNAN was involved in an aviation accident near Cedarburg, WI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the tree during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the windshear and the tree. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported that wind shear from the right side caused the aircraft to lose 20 to 30 feet of altitude during takeoff, resulting in an unavoidable impact with a tree. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Incident Report Details According to the pilot's account, the aircraft encountered wind shear from its right side during the takeoff phase. The pilot stated that the airplane lost an estimated 20 to 30 feet of altitude as a result of the shear. The pilot further reported that the loss of altitude made it impossible to avoid a collision with a tree. The pilot confirmed that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft during the accident flight. The source does not provide specific details regarding the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location of the incident. The probable cause is not explicitly stated in the provided source material, though the pilot's report attributes the incident to wind shear.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2 Aug 2008 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Cedarburg, WI?

A pilot reported that wind shear from the right side caused the aircraft to lose 20 to 30 feet of altitude during takeoff, resulting in an unavoidable impact with a tree. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Were there any fatalities in the 2 Aug 2008 Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2 Aug 2008 involved an Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, operated by JAMES B. BRENNAN, at Cedarburg, WI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the tree during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the windshear and the tree.