What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On may 16, 2009 at approximately 1155 MDT, N94300, an Ercoupe, 415C, registered to the pilot was taking off runway 6 at Gallup, NM airport (gup) for a local "eaa young eagle" flight. The pilot reported that he was about 300' AGL when the aircraft experienced a "loss of lift" momentarily and within seconds he realized the aircraft was not climbing. He turned left to avoid a housing subdivision and looked for a suitable place to land. He spotted a dirt road and headed for it. Right before the road was a dirt ridge that he was unable to clear and after striking the top of it the aircraft descended to the ground and was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries during the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of this CFR part 91 flight.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON MAY 16, 2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 1155 MDT, N94300, AN ERCOUPE, 415C, REGISTERED TO THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF RUNWAY 6 AT GALLUP, NM AIRPORT (GUP) FOR A LOCAL "EAA YOUNG EAGLE" FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ABOUT 300' AGL WHEN THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A "LOSS OF LIFT" MOMENTARILY AND WITHIN SECONDS HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT CLIMBING. HE TURNED LEFT TO AVOID A HOUSING SUBDIVISION AND LOOKED FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO LAND. HE SPOTTED A DIRT ROAD AND HEADED FOR IT. RIGHT BEFORE THE ROAD WAS A DIRT RIDGE THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR AND AFTER STRIKING THE TOP OF IT THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE ACCIDENT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THIS CFR PART 91 FLIGHT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.