# NTSB CHI08CA208: Ercoupe 415-G, N94413, West Jefferson, OH, July 23, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2008, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: West Jefferson, OH - Coordinates: 39.880756, -83.440048 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8808&lon=-83.4400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 68704 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68704/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA208 ## Probable cause The improper preflight planning/preparation by the pilot and the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion during takeoff. Contributing factors were the pilot’s expired flight review and airman medical, the aircraft weight and balance exceeded by the pilot, and the trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: flight planning/navigation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 179 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061025/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-G, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420330), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane impacted trees and terrain during takeoff about 500 feet from the departure end of a private grass airstrip during a personal flight that was en route to obtain fuel at the destination airport. The airplane wings were crushed rearward along the leading edge, the empennage was separated from the airframe, and the firewall was wrinkled. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. The pilot sustained serious injuries that included a broken right arm and left leg and the passenger sustained serious facial and ankle injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no usable fuel in either wing tank and header tank. Also, there was no residual fuel in the header tank to engine fuel lines. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane's center of gravity, with no usable fuel aboard, was aft of its limit. The pilot's fight review and medical certificate were expired at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The airplane impacted trees and terrain during takeoff about 500 feet from the departure end of a private grass airstrip during a personal flight that was en route to obtain fuel at the destination airport. The airplane wings were crushed rearward along the leading edge, the empennage was separated from the airframe, and the firewall was wrinkled. The airplane was not equipped with shoulder harnesses. The pilot sustained serious injuries that included a broken right arm and left leg and the passenger sustained serious facial and ankle injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed there was no usable fuel in either wing tank and header tank. Also, there was no residual fuel in the header tank to engine fuel lines. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the airplane's center of gravity, with no usable fuel aboard, was aft of its limit. The pilot's fight review and medical certificate were expired at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94413](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94413-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 5045, built 1950 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-G - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-G](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-g) (registry code 0420330) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5045 - Engines: Continental O-200 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2008 - Departed: West Jefferson, OH - Destination: UYF, London, OH - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 36 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review October 1, 2005; flight hours: 500 total, 4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20080723843379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080723843379A), Jul 23, 2008: Univar 415G, London, OH, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot took off from his privately owned airstrip. The aircraft turned left to the north west, and impacted the trees. The aircraft fell to the ground… 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.