- Date
- November 1, 1993, 08:49 local (13:49 UTC)
- Place
- Willis, VA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N94440Univair Ercoupe 415E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19931101042149A
- Case key
- 8861
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the failure of the airplane's throttle cable fitting due to undetermined reasons, which prevented the pilot from applying power above engine idle. A factor in this accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to complete a forced landing without damaging the airplane.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that while cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level, he attempted to increase power. He said that at that point, he lost throttle control and the engine went to idle. The pilot executed a forced landing and collided with the top of automobile in a residential area during the landing. Because of the mountainous, forested terrain he said he was unable to reach a suitable landing area. An examination of the airplane revealed the throttle cable assembly fitting failed and separated from its housing which prevented the pilot from manipulating the throttle.
Factual narrative
On November 1, 1993, about 0849 hours eastern standard time, a Univair Ercoupe 415E, N94440 collided with objects at the termination of a forced landing. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The certificated private pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight, being operated by the pilot/owner, originated in Blacksburg, Virginia and was destined for Apalachicola, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed.
An FAA safety inspector examined the airplane on scene and interviewed the pilot. The pilot said that when he reduced power, the throttle cable assembly became loose. He said that he could not regain power and that the power remained at idle. An examination conducted by the FAA safety inspector revealed a throttle cable assembly fitting separated from its housing which would not allow the pilot to manipulate the throttle.
In his written report, the pilot added that because of mountainous terrain, he was unable to reach suitable terrain to complete the forced landing.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N94440
- Reported as
- Univair Ercoupe 415E (ERCOUPE 41)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5012
- Engine
- Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Leonard Romanik
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- BCB · Blacksburg, VA
- Destination
- AAF · Appalachicola, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,332 total · 79 in this make and model · 1,332 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 5° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Temperature
- 36 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.