- Date
- April 4, 2003, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ranger, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N93815Ercoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030404007409A
- Case key
- 56755
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 an undetermined reason.
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
During the takeoff/initial climb there was a loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a telephone service box and a fence. The airplane was registered to the student pilot's father. On May 26, 1992, a third class medical certificate was issued to the student pilot who had logged 8.6 hours of flight. The student pilot departed the accident scene, and has not responded to FAA inquiries. To date, a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) had not been received by the Safety Board. The FAA inspector reported that the last annual inspection was performed on June 17, 1992.
Factual narrative
On April 4, 2003, approximately 1300 central standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C single-engine airplane, N93815, struck a telephone service box and a fence following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb near Ranger, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and flown by the student pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot, sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and a flight plan was not filed for the local flight, which was originating at the time of the accident.
Local authorities reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that during the takeoff/initial climb from runway 01 at the Ranger Municipal Airport (F23), the engine lost power. The airplane was found resting in a field, and the outboard portion of the left wing was separated from the airplane.
The FAA inspector reported that the airplane was registered to the pilot's father. On May 26, 1992, a third class medical certificate was issued to the student pilot who had logged 8.6 hours of flight.
Further, the pilot departed the accident scene, and has not responded to FAA inquiries. To date, a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) had not been received by the Safety Board.
The FAA inspector reported that the last annual inspection was performed on June 17, 1992. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93815
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1138
- Engine
- Continental C-75-12, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Jeff R. Krantz
- Registered owner
- Jim R. Krantz
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 17, 1992
- Departed
- F23 · Ranger, TX
- Airport
- F23 · Ranger Municipal, runway 01, 2,624 × 14 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
- 41
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Flight hours
- 9 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.78 inHg
- Observed at
- MWL, 25 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.