- Date
- August 2, 2008, 11:35 local (16:35 UTC)
- Place
- Cedarburg, WI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N93963Ercoupe 415-C
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Milwaukee, WI, FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080802857789A
- Case key
- 68743
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 not maintaining altitude/clearance from the tree during takeoff. Contributing to the accident were the windshear and the tree.
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 during takeoff the airplane was "struck by wind shear" from its right side. He reported that the airplane "lost perhaps 20' - 30' of altitude" and that he "could not avoid impact with the tree." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during takeoff the airplane was "struck by wind shear" from its right side. He reported that the airplane "lost perhaps 20' - 30' of altitude" and that he "could not avoid impact with the tree." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93963
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1286
- Airframe hours
- 2,564
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- James B. Brennan
- Registered owner
- James B. Brennan
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 2008
- Departed
- 1WN2 · Cedarburg, WI
- Destination
- BUU · Burlington, WI
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
- 61
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Sport Pilot, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 342 total · 142 in this make and model · 247 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 40° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- ETB
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.