# NTSB CHI04CA175: Ercoupe 415C, N2546H, Lake City, MI, July 3, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 3, 2004, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Lake City, MI - Coordinates: 44.320278, -85.17028 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3203&lon=-85.1703&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Grand Rapids, Michigan - NTSB case key (mKey): 59783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA175 ## Probable cause The pilot selecting the wrong runway for the wind conditions and his delay in executing an aborted takeoff resulting in the airplane running off the departure end of the runway and into a ditch. The tailwind and the ditch were contributing factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when it went off the end of the runway, crossed a road and struck a ditch on the opposite side of the road. The pilot reported that during the takeoff, he "accelerated to slightly over 85 miles per hour [and] could feel absolutely no lift." He reported seeing a small piece of paper come from the northwest at approximately 100 feet above the ground. He stated that the paper then dove to the ground to the southwest and bounced along the ground in front of the airplane. The pilot stated that he pulled the throttle back, the airplane bounced off of the ground, hit the end of the runway and crossed the road adjacent to the departure end of the runway and came to rest in the ditch on the west side of the road. The winds about 30 minutes prior to the accident were 120 degrees at 11 knots. About 30 minutes after the accident the recorded wind was 130 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots. The takeoff was being made on runway 27. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2004, about 1930 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415C, N2546H, owned and piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from runway 27 (3,830 feet by 160 feet, turf), at the Home Acres Sky Ranch Airport, Lake City, Michigan. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that during the takeoff, he "accelerated to slightly over 85 miles per hour [and] could feel absolutely no lift." The pilot reported that he saw a small piece of paper come from the northwest at approximately 100 feet above the ground. He stated that the paper then dove to the ground to the southwest and bounced along the ground in front of the airplane. The pilot stated that he pulled the throttle back, the airplane bounced off of the ground, hit the end of the runway and crossed the road adjacent to the departure end of the runway and came to rest in the ditch on the west side of the road. The weather reporting station located at the Wexford County Airport, Cadillac, Michigan, 11 nautical miles west-southwest of the accident site, recorded the wind at 1854 as 120 degrees at 11 knots. At 1954 the recorded wind was 130 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 14 knots. A review of the pilots logbook by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector revealed that the pilot's most recent flight review as required by 14 CFR 61.56 was conducted on April 10, 2001. FAA records show that the pilot's most recent third class medical certificate was issued on January 23, 2001. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2546H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2546H), registered now, S/N 3171, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3171 - Engines: Continental O-200A 100 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wendall E. Wing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Departed: Y91, Lake City, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review April 10, 2001; flight hours: 1,648 total, 1,560 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KCAD ## 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 20040703016739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040703016739A), Jul 3, 2004: Univar 415C, Lake City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot attempted a down wind take off neat max gross take off weight. Pilot attempted to abort take off, but had too much ground speed to safely stop… 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.