# NTSB DEN00LA183: Ercoupe 415-C, N2421H, Tucumcari, NM, September 30, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 2000, 16:27 local (22:27 UTC) - Place: Tucumcari, NM - Coordinates: 35.159523, -103.720146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1595&lon=-103.7201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50376 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA183 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50376/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA183 ## Probable cause loss of control during initial climb following takeoff by an unqualified person. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stolen aircraft/unauthorized use - intentional, pilot in command - lack of certification, unqualified person (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis Two people, a father and son, were hired by the airplane owner to mow grass at the airport in preparation for an upcoming air show. Without the airplane owner's permission, they took the airplane, taxied to the fueling station, had the airplane fueled, and taxied to takeoff. During initial climb following takeoff, at about 150 feet above ground level, the wings were observed to "wobble" and the airplane entered a vertical dive. The airplane then impacted the ground beside the runway and burst into flames. Neither of the occupants had any pilot training or experience. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 2000, at 1627 mountain daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2421H, was destroyed when it collided with the ground following a loss of control during initial climb following takeoff from Tucumcari Municipal Airport, Tucumcari, New Mexico. Both occupants, neither of whom held a pilot certificate, received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this unauthorized flight that was originating at the time the accident occurred. No flight plan was filed. An airport employee, who witnessed the event, called the local authorities who arrived on scene in about 10 minutes. On arrival, they found the aircraft in flames with one person on board and the other person sitting on the ground about 50 yards from the aircraft. This person was conscious and had multiple burns over most of his body. He identified himself as the pilot of the aircraft and the other person as his father. He was transported to the local hospital where he passed away. The airport employee said that the two occupants had taxied the airplane to the fueling facility where they purchased 9.2 gallons of 100 octane low lead aviation gasoline. He was unaware that they were not authorized to use the airplane or that neither was a qualified pilot. The airport employee related that he watched them taxi the airplane to runway 26 where they commenced a takeoff. Following lift off, at about 150 feet above ground level, the airplane was observed to "wobble" from side to side and enter a vertical dive, with the top of the airplane fully visible from the terminal building, until it impacted the ground and burst into flames. According to the airplane's owner, he periodically hired the father and son to do odd jobs around the airport. On this occasion, he had hired them to mow grass in preparation for an upcoming air show. He said that they would have known where the airplane's keys were kept, and to the best of his knowledge, neither had any pilot training or experience. A search of FAA records provided no evidence that either of the occupants had ever had either a medical certificate or a pilot's license. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2421H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2421H-2001-03-30), registration cancelled 2001-03-30, S/N 3046 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3046 - Airframe hours: 3010 - Engines: Continental C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stanley E. Jennings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 6, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: TCC - Airport: TCC, Tucumcari, runway 26, 4,600 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; seat: left; toxicology performed ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 196 °F, dew point 99 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: TCC, 1 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 20000930014529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000930014529A), Sep 30, 2000: Univar 415C, Tucumcari, NM, No damage, 2 fatal. (-23) On 9/30/00, approx. 1705 MDT. N2421H, a Ercoupe, departed rwy 26 @tucumcan, NM (tcc). During the climb, control of a/c was lost. The a/c impacted the… 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.