Accident Details
On June 13, 2019, at 0856 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C (registration N87294) struck a tree and impacted terrain approximately one mile east of Holly Lake Ranch Airport (16TE) in Hawkins, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger both sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were present at the airport around the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated in Henderson (RFI), Texas, at about 0830.
Pilot and Passenger Statements
In a conversation with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot reported that he and his granddaughter had flown to Henderson, where he purchased 25 gallons of fuel, filling the airplane to capacity. They were returning to their home base. The pilot stated he could not recall any details of the accident beyond hitting the tree.
The passenger told the inspector that they had just turned onto final approach to runway 9 when the engine began running roughly and the propeller "slowed down." She said the pilot attempted to restore engine power without success. Both saw the tree, and the pilot tried to pull up, but the maneuver was insufficient to avoid the collision. The inspector noted that the tree was about 40 ft tall, located approximately 550 ft from the runway threshold and 70 ft north of the extended runway centerline.
Aircraft Examination
The inspector observed that the right wing was compressed, the empennage was buckled, and the forward fuselage was bent. No witnesses to the accident were identified. The engine was subsequently examined by FAA inspectors, who found no anomalies.