- Date
- January 30, 2011, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Newaygo, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N127GErcoupe 415-CD
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Grand Rapids FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110130001849A
- Case key
- 78355
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 pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from a frozen lake.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was departing a plowed "airstrip" on an ice-covered lake. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and the left wheel hit a snowbank on the left side of the airstrip. The airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced no mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was departing a plowed "airstrip" on an ice covered lake. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and the left wheel hit a snow bank on the left side of the airstrip. The airplane nosed over which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N127G
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-CD
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4795
- Airframe hours
- 2,515
- Engine
- Cont Motor C90-12F, 90 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Buttermore Dale D
- Registered owner
- Buttermore Dale D
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 9, 2010
- Departed
- Newaygo, MI
- Destination
- 08C · Jenison, MI
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
- 73
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 932 total · 679 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,600 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 27 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.27 inHg
- Observed at
- GRR
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 23, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N127G · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.