# NTSB MIA93FA065: Forney Ercoupe F-1, N7555C, Aguadilla, PR, February 8, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 8, 1993, 11:06 local (15:06 UTC) - Place: Aguadilla, PR - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report November 15, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 33177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA93FA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93FA065 ## Probable cause EXCESSIVE ELEVATOR CONTROL INPUT BY AN UNKNOWN OCCUPANT AT AN AIRSPEED ABOVE MANEUVERING SPEED WHICH CAUSED BOTH FORWARD WING SPARS TO FAIL. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AND HIS LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - emergency - airspeed(va) - exceeded, unknown - elevator - abrupt, unknown (cause) - wing,spar - failure,total (cause) - wing,spar - overload (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLT, 12 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE FUEL TANKS & THE AIRPLANE WAS FLOWN THREE TIMES. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT DEPARTED WITH AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY OF FUEL & WHILE MANEUVERING, THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING THE EMERGENCY DESCENT, ONE OF THE TWO OCCUPANTS APPLIED FULL UP ELEVATOR CONTROL AT AN AIRSPEED ABOVE MANEUVERING SPEED (VA) WHICH CAUSED BOTH FORWARD WING SPARS TO FAIL IN THE POSITIVE DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED NEAR VERTICAL AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A NOSE-LOW ATTITUDE. EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SITE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FLIGHT CONTROL PREIMPACT FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. EXAM OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACES OF THE WING SPARS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREEXISTING CRACKS OR CORROSION. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES SINCE DEPARTURE. THE STUDENT PLT IN THE LEFT SEAT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT WHO WAS AUTHORIZED TO FLY THE AIRPLANE. NO DETERMINATION COULD BE MADE AS TO WHY THE PRIVATE PILOT RATED PASSENGER WAS IN THE AIRPLANE. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7555C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7555C-1993-04-15), registration cancelled 1993-04-15, S/N 5672 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FORNEY ERCOUPE F-1 (ERCOUPE F-) - Registry model: [Forney F-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/forney-f-1) (registry code 0420202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5672 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Giles, Garred A. - Registered owner: Giles, Garred A. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 7, 1992, 63 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 15 total, 15 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MAZ, 9 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 19930208001869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930208001869A), Feb 8, 1993: Univar F1, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Wings folded in flight due overstress. Witness report indicates pullup from a dive wings folded. Passenger pilot. ## Other investigations on N7555C (1) 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. - [NTSB UNK69X0116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK69X0116), Apr 15, 1969: Forney F-1 (N7555C), St Eustatius (Atlantic Ocean), substantial damage 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.