# NTSB CHI04LA082: Alon A2 Ercoupe, N825DC, Hawley, MN, February 28, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 28, 2004, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Hawley, MN - Coordinates: 46.883609, -96.35083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8836&lon=-96.3508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58871 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58871/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA082 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the fence post. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence post (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a gravel road when the airplane hit a fence post, which spun it into a ditch. The pilot stated that while circling a farm field, the engine began to sputter and run very rough when he applied full power to climb. He then elected to perform the forced landing. The loss of engine power could not be duplicated upon later examination. ## Factual narrative On February 28, 2004, at 1630 central standard time, an Alon A2 Ercoupe, N825DC, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing on a gravel road about 5 miles northwest of Hawley, Minnesota. The pilot reported the engine was running rough and didn't believe he would make it to the airport. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Hector International Airport, Fargo, North Dakota, at 1600 and was en route to Hawley Municipal Airport, Hawley, Minnesota. The pilot stated that he was circling a farm field about 5 miles northwest of Hawley, Minnesota. He applied full power to climb after circling the field and the engine "began to sputter and run very rough." The pilot stated that he could not maintain altitude and decided to land on a road running north/south beneath him. He landed on the gravel road and his left main tire went off into a ditch after he maneuvered to avoid hitting a mailbox. He applied full right rudder to realign himself on the road. The airplane would not realign on the road, and the left wing struck a fence post. The airplane spun around counter-clockwise and into a ditch. The right wing impacted a second fence post and the airplane came to rest in the ditch. The power loss could not be duplicated upon examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N825DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N825DC), registered now, S/N A-124, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Alon A2 Ercoupe - Registry model: [Alon A2](https://openairdocs.org/model/alon-a2) (registry code 0540102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A-124 - Airframe hours: 3153 - Engines: Continental C-90-16F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cory Johnson - Registered owner: Delta Charlie, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 2003, 15 hours before - Departed: FAR, Fargo, ND - Destination: 04Y, Hawley, MN - Airport: 04Y, Hawley Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 16, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 253 total, 130 in this make and model, 208 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 13 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: JKJ, 12 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 20040228003579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040228003579A), Feb 28, 2004: Univar A2ALON, Hawley, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Five miles northwest of Hawley, Minnesota (K04Y) engine started to run rough. Pilot did not feel he could make it to Hawley (K04Y) and landed on gravel… 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.