No fatalities

2 Aug 2008: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C — JAMES B. BRENNAN — Cedarburg, WI

Cedarburg, WI, United States

On 2 Aug 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's failure to maintain altitude and clearance from the tree during takeoff, with wind shear and the tree acting as contributing factors. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

An Ercoupe aircraft struck a tree during takeoff following an encounter with wind shear.

What happened

On August 2, 2008, an Ercoupe 415-C, registration N93963, was performing a takeoff in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. During the initial climb, the pilot encountered wind shear originating from the right side of the aircraft. This encounter caused the airplane to lose approximately 20 to 30 feet of altitude. Consequently, the pilot was unable to avoid an impact with a tree.

There was one minor injury reported following the accident, and there were no fatalities. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions occurred during the flight.

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude and clearance from the tree during takeoff, with wind shear and the tree acting as contributing factors.

Contributing factors

Causes

Altitude — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Contributed to outcome