- Date
- September 21, 1993, 02:00 local (09:00 UTC)
- Place
- Twentynine Palm, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N93321Ercoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Status
- Completed · report September 27, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19930921035929A
- Case key
- 28483
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 attemted takeoff from a taxiway due to alcoholic impairment. The night light condition was a factor.
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 pilot had landed to deplane a passenger. He then attempted to take off from a taxiway and collided with a ditch. The pilot's blood alcohol level was 0.10%.
Factual narrative
On September 21, 1993, at 0200 hours Pacific daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N93321, collided with a ditch during the takeoff roll from the west taxiway at Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), Twentynine Palms, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to Bullhead City, Arizona. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Apple Valley Airport, Apple Valley, California, at 0005 hours.
The FAA reported the pilot landed to let his passenger, who was intoxicated, out of the plane. The pilot, who was also intoxicated, attempted a takeoff from the west taxiway. The airplane collided with a ditch and collapsed the landing gear, damaging the engine and wings.
The Naval hospital reported the pilot had a 0.10% blood alcohol level. Federal regulations state that a 0.04% blood alcohol level is the maximum allowed for flight and that no person may operate an aircraft within 8 hours after drinking any alcoholic beverages.
The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that while enroute to Bullhead City he became disoriented and made a precautionary landing at Twentynine Palms MCAS. He then stated that during the takeoff the airplane struck a mound of dirt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93321
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 644
- Airframe hours
- 2,055
- Engine
- Continental C-85, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Drew, Keith E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1993 · 62 hours before
- Departed
- EAF
- Destination
- PO6 · Bullhead City, AZ
- Airport
- EAF · Twentynine Palms Mcas
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
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 490 in this make and model · 570 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/bright
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F
- Observed at
- EAF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.