- Date
- November 4, 2009, 15:05 local (20:05 UTC)
- Place
- Germantown, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N93659Ercoupe 415
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Fuel starvation
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 6, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20091104050899A
- Case key
- 75013
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's decision to continue operation of the airplane with a known mechanical deficiency.
Findings · 2
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 stated that he had just purchased the accident airplane. After completing a familiarization flight with the previous owner, the pilot had the main fuel tanks topped off and then departed. After flying for 20 minutes, the pilot noticed that the header fuel tank indicator was showing empty. The pilot returned to the departure airport and told the previous owner that something was wrong with the fuel system. The owner informed him that it should be fine, and the pilot refueled the header fuel tank and departed again for his destination. During the flight the engine lost all power and the pilot conducted an emergency landing to a field. During landing the airplane flipped over inverted and was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage by a mechanic revealed that the fuel pump to the header tank was not operating at the correct flow rate.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he had just purchased the accident airplane. After completing a familiarization flight with the previous owner, the pilot had the main fuel tanks topped off and departed. After flying for 20 minutes, the pilot noticed that the header fuel tank indicator was showing empty. The pilot returned to the departure airport and told the previous owner that something was wrong with the fuel system. The owner informed him that it should be fine, and the pilot refueled the header fuel tank, and departed again for his destination. During the flight the engine lost all power and the pilot conducted an emergency landing to a field. During landing the airplane flipped over inverted and was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage by a mechanic revealed that the fuel pump to the header tank was not operating at the correct flow rate.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93659
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415 (C)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 982
- Airframe hours
- 2,419
- Engine
- Continental C85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jay D. Morriset
- Registered owner
- Jay D. Morriset
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 5, 2009
- Departed
- CON · Concord, NH
- Destination
- 20N · Kingston-Ulster, NY
- Airport
- K20N · Kingston-Ulster Airport
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
- 50
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 7, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 425 total · 3 in this make and model · 9 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.23 inHg
- Observed at
- KPOU, 10 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 12, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.9 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N93659 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.