# NTSB CEN10LA203: Univair 415-C, N93876, Columbiaville, MI, April 12, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 12, 2010, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Columbiaville, MI - Coordinates: 43.125, -83.450279 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1250&lon=-83.4503&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75758 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75758/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75758 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA203 ## Probable cause The pilot misjudged his speed and distance while landing, which resulted in an overrun and subsequent collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he landed approximately a third of the way down the runway. He said that as he applied the brakes near the turnabout area at the south end of the runway, he discovered that he couldn't stop. The airplane subsequently went down an embankment, struck terrain, and sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the brake master cylinder piston rod's clevis had separated. An NTSB materials laboratory examination indicated that the separation was consistent with bending forces associated with the accident and no preexisting anomalies were detected. ## Factual narrative On April 12, 2010, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a Univair Aircraft Corporation 415-C, N93876, piloted by a private pilot, exited runway 18 (1,400 feet by 80 feet, dry grass) while landing at private airstrip near Columbiaville, Michigan. The airplane subsequently sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The flight originated about 1100 from the Wm 'Tiny' Zehnder Field Airport, near Frankenmuth, Michigan, and was destined for the private airstrip. The pilot, in his accident report, said he'd set up for a normal approach to runway 18 and landed approximately a third of the way down the runway. He said that as he applied the brakes near the turnabout area at the south end of the runway, he discovered that he couldn't stop. He went off the end of the runway and down an embankment causing considerable damage to the airplane. The pilot said that "later when the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] inspector arrived, we discovered that the brake pedal had broken ..." An examination of the brake master cylinder piston rod’s clevis was found separated from its piston rod. The separated clevis was retained by the FAA inspector and forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for further examination at the materials laboratory. A Senior Materials Engineer examined the separated clevis and reported that the fracture surface had rough matte gray fracture features consistent with an overstress fracture. Their report stated that overall fracture features including radial marks and contact faces that were consistent with fracture under bending loads with the upper end bending forward and to the right relative to the lower end. No evidence of any preexisting damage such as fatigue was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93876](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93876-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 1199, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Univair Aircraft Corporation 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1199 - Airframe hours: 1213.12 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 2009 - Departed: 66G, Frankenmuth, MI - Destination: PVT, Columbiaville, MI - Airport: PVT, runway 18, 1,400 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 19, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 1,052 total, 460 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: FNT, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20100412031279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100412031279A), Apr 12, 2010: Ercoupe 415-C, Columbiaville, MI, Substantial damage. Clarence f. leazenby, private pilot 1684382, operating under sport pilot rules using a driver's license for a medical. Mi d/l #[privacy data omitted]made… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75758. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 979 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329870&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report 10-041 (item 2, .PDF, 326 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329796&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%2015%20-%20Factual%20Report%2010-041-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.