Accident Overview
On August 13, 2008, at 1415 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, registration N94339, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from the Southern Dreams Ranch private airstrip in Arcadia, Florida. The aircraft was operated by the certificated commercial pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
Takeoff and Collision
A witness reported to the DeSoto County Sheriff's Office that the pilot routinely flew from his base in Venice, Florida, to the property. On the day of the accident, the witness observed the airplane depart toward the west from the measured 1,200-foot long grass strip. During takeoff, the airplane veered left. The witness stated it appeared the airplane encountered a downdraft, causing a loss of altitude. The pilot seemed to attempt to reestablish a climb but could not clear an oak tree located about 50 feet past and 20 feet left of the runway. The airplane clipped the tree at an estimated height of 30 feet above ground level, entered an uncontrolled descent while impacting several pine trees, and came to rest inverted on the ground with a section of the left wing separated.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a second-class medical certificate issued March 4, 2005, with a limitation requiring glasses for near vision. At the time of his last medical application, he reported 10,000 total flight hours. Review of his flight logbooks by the responding FAA inspector showed the last entry was dated April 16, 2002, with 7,209 hours. His last biennial flight review was completed on December 2, 2006.
Aircraft Information
The 1946 Ercoupe 415-C, serial number 1562, was operated in the Light Sport Aircraft category. It was powered by a Teledyne Continental Motors O-200-A 100-horsepower engine. Maintenance records indicated the last annual inspection was on June 6, 2008, at a total airframe time of 3,473 hours. The engine had accumulated 1,885 hours since overhaul.
Meteorological Information
The closest official weather observation was recorded at Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda, Florida, 23 miles southwest of the accident site. At 1353, the METAR reported wind from 250 degrees at 13 knots, visibility 9 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 32°C, dew point 23°C, and altimeter 29.95 inches of mercury.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the main wreckage revealed the top section of the cockpit area was crushed and the windshield broken and separated. The fuselage was twisted aft of the cockpit, and the cockpit area was partially separated and ripped open. The right wing leading edge was crushed with impact damage and bent toward the tail. A section beyond the left wing spar area had separated, and its leading edge showed similar impact damage. The engine nacelle was crushed aft and twisted to the left. The propeller remained attached to the engine; both propeller tips were twisted and bent.
An examination by FAA and TCM personnel found no abnormalities or discrepancies that would have prevented normal flight operations. A non-Technical Standard Order electronic magneto (E-mag) was installed in the right magneto position of the certificated engine.
Medical Examination
A postmortem examination conducted by the Florida State Medical Examiner on August 14, 2008, attributed the pilot's cause of death to multiple blunt force injuries. The autopsy noted a heart weight of 490 grams, "moderate to early severe atheromatous eccentric and concentric calcified stenosis" (up to 80% in the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries), and a 1.5 x 0.7 x 1.0 cm focus of healed fibrosis of the left posterior lateral ventricular free wall. Toxicological testing by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute was negative for alcohol but detected ranitidine in the blood and urine.