# Accident 19980422013529A: Univar 415D, Colstrip, MT, April 22, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 22, 1998, 16:15 local time
- Place: Colstrip, MT
- Airport: Colstrip Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.9804° N, 106.6700° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9804&lon=-106.6700&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2777H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2777H-1998-10-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ercoupe 415-D (registry code 0420326, https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415D
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 127 total, 27 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA98LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA066) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980422013529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

VEERED LEFT ON LIFTOFF. HIT RUNWAY NOSE FIRST. VEERED RIGHT AFTER TEARING OFF NOSE GEAR. EXITED RUNWAY INTO DIRT. (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT ON TAKEOFF, IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE, THE AIRPLANE BANKED LEFT AND 'I FOUGHT FOR CONTROL.'  THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRPLANE THEN 'APPARENTLY VEERED TO THE NORTH OF THE RUNWAY', THEN 'SEEMED TO BEGIN TO CLIMB [AND] THEN WE WERE DOWN.'  THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE RUNWAY, TO THE NORTH (RIGHT SIDE) OF THE RUNWAY.  BASED ON AIRCRAFT, OCCUPANT AND FUEL WEIGHTS REPORTED BY THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE WAS COMPUTED TO BE APPROXIMATELY 52.5 POUNDS (4%) ABOVE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF.  BASED ON REPORTED TEMPERATURE OF 72 DEGREES F AND FIELD ELEVATION OF 3,426 FEET, DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 5,000 FEET AT THE TIME.  AT THIS COMBINATION OF PRESSURE ALTITUDE AND TEMPERATURE, THE AIRPLANE'S CONTINENTAL C75 ENGINE IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING APPROXIMATELY 65 BRAKE HORSEPOWER (BHP), APPROXIMATELY 13% LESS THAN ITS SEA-LEVEL RATING OF 75 BHP.                                                                                                                                                (-23)PIC STATED THE FOLLOWING: ON TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED AT 65-70 MPH. UPON LIFTOFF AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT, MADE CONTACT WITH RUNWAY.  PILOT TRIED TO LAND AIRCRAFT BUT IT VEERED RIGHT, NOSE WHEEL WAS BROKEN OFF.  AIRCRAFT WHEELS WERE BURIED IN DIRT AND AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON NORTH SIDE ABOUT MID FIELD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA98LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA066), Apr 22, 1998: Ercoupe 415-D (N2777H), Colstrip, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's operation of the aircraft above maximum gross weight, resulting in her inability to attain a sustained climb rate after becoming airborne. A factor was high density altitude conditions.

## Other reports on N2777H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19920301014509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920301014509I), Mar 1, 1992: Univar 415D (N2777H), Cascade, MT. Lost oil pressure in flight. Forced landing on highway. Wing hit sign on rollout.NR4 cylinder connecting rod failed

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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