- Date
- July 14, 1991, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Sacramento, KY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N980DDErcoupe 415D
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 27, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19910714027159A
- Case key
- 36965
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 conduct flight with a known deficiency that adversely affected the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft.
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 reported that he experienced engine vibrations while enroute to new albany, Kentucky, so he made a precautionary landing on a dirt road. During the landing, the left wing was damaged when it struck corn stalks next to the road. The damage consisted of a broken landing light lens causing a hole in the left leading edge of the wing. The pilot inspected the wing and without replacing the lens, he attempted to takeoff. About 50 feet above the ground, the aircraft made an uncommanded left turn. Despite corrective action the aircraft turned 270 degrees, struck the ground and cartwheeled.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N980DD
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 4010
- Airframe hours
- 1,797
- Engine
- Continental C-75-12, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Robert Hall, Jr
- Registered owner
- Robert Hall, Jr
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1990 · 70 hours before
- Departed
- M34 · Gilbertsville, KY
- Airport
- M34 · Kentucky Dam State Park
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
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 633 total · 230 in this make and model · 574 as pilot in command · 48 in the last 90 days · 31 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.