- Date
- May 31, 2002, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Conway, AR
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N94769Ercoupe ERCO-415-E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 29, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20020531013399A
- Case key
- 54822
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the pilots necessity to avoid a power line during the emergency descent and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The engine lost power after takeoff at an altitude of 150-200 feet. The pilot stated that the engine RPM's went from full, down to 800 RPM's. After pulling up over power lines at the end of the runway, he maneuvered the airplane into a hay field. Subsequently, the hard landing resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.
Factual narrative
**This report was modified on 6/21/2011; please see the public docket for this accident to see earlier versions of this report.**
On May 31, 2002, approximately 1400 central daylight time, an Ercoupe ERCO-415-E single-engine airplane, N94769, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Dennis F Cantrell Field Airport, Conway, Arkansas. The private pilot and his 1 passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plane was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to information provided in the enclosed NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) and a telephone interview, the pilot reported that the engine lost power after takeoff at an altitude of 150-200 feet. He stated that the engine RPM's went from full, down to 800 RPM's. After pulling up over power lines at the end of the runway, he maneuvered the airplane into a hay field. Subsequently, the hard landing resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N94769
- Reported as
- Ercoupe ERCO-415-E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 234
- Airframe hours
- 5,000
- Engine
- Continental O-200, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dr. Webb Sentell
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 2002 · 15 hours before
- Departed
- M03 · Conway, AR
- Destination
- M03 · Conway, AR
- Airport
- M03 · Dennis Cantrell Field, runway 36, 3,278 × 60 ft, asphalt
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
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- May 16, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 151 total · 89 in this make and model · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 10, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 484 KB 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.