# NTSB CHI90LA057: Ercoupe 415-CD, N3871H, Lizton, IN, December 29, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 29, 1989, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Lizton, IN
- Coordinates: 39.880264, -86.540626 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8803&lon=-86.5406&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14613
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14613/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA057

## Probable cause

SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN BY THE PILOT AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS OF THE PILOT, TERRAIN CONDITION AND FENCE ON OR NEAR THE AIRSTRIP, THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OF AIRCRAFT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN AIRSPEED.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Overrun, takeoff - roll/run
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - interpersonal relations, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - grass
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vlof) - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING AN ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF HE 'APPLIED FULL POWER, AIRPLANE TRAVELLED ACROSS THREE AREAS OF SNOW....FAILED TO OBTAIN FLYING SPEED...CONTACTED FENCE AND DITCH.' THE RUNWAY IN USE WAS A 1,550 FOOT LONG, SNOW-COVERED GRASS STRIP; THE PILOT STATED 'I KNEW BETTER, AND I SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR BETTER RUNWAY CONDITIONS. I JUST SCREWED UP.' THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE HIS AIRCRAFT FROM HIS EX-WIFE'S PROPERTY BECAUSE HE WAS 'CONCERNED WITH DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT BY OTHER PARTIES....' THE COMMERCIALLY CERTIFICATED PILOT INDICATED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 1,600 HOURS, OF WHICH 1,500 HOURS WERE IN SINGLE-ENGINE AIRCRAFT. HE REPORTED THREE HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN THE ACCIDENT MAKE AND MODEL AIRCRAFT, ALL WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3871H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3871H-2012-09-21), registration cancelled 2012-09-21, S/N 4572, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-cd) (registry code 0420324) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4572
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Orr, Roy A.
- Registered owner: Alcorn, Stephen C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: NONE, LIZTON, IN
- Airport: NONE, Haffner, runway 21, 1,550 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,600 total, 3 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 14,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 11 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 19891229054309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891229054309A), Dec 29, 1989: Univar 415D, Lizton, IN, Substantial damage. Tried to depart private snow covered strip. Unable to lift off ran into a fence and ditch off end of runway.

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.

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