- Date
- May 28, 1994, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place
- Warrenton, VA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3200HErcoupe 415-E
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940528012759A
- Case key
- 38764
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 did not maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of experience on grass strips in this make and model airplane.
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 roll, the 1946 Ercoupe was not accelerating as the pilot was accustomed, and he aborted the takeoff. During the abort, the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and nosed over. The pilot had a total of 21 hours in the Ercoupe, and all previous flights were on hard surface runways. This was the pilot's first departure from a grass strip in this airplane.
Factual narrative
On May 28, 1994, at 0850 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-E, N3200H, owned and piloted by Veerayuth Didyasarin, was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff at the Flying Circus Airport, Warrenton, Virginia. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91.
In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he held the brakes prior to takeoff and advanced the throttle to takeoff power. After brake release, when the airplane reached 40 to 45 knots, the pilot did not believe that the airplane was accelerating normally.
He further stated:
"...I made the decision to abort the takeoff by closing the throttle and applying both brake pedals equally. The aircraft veered to left side of runway in spite of right correction...The aircraft almost stopped when the nose wheel collapsed and the aircraft slowly and gently flipped over on its back..."
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector's report:
"The pilot had 21 hours total time in aircraft. Prior to this flight, the pilot had flown the aircraft from a hard surface runway at Manassas Airport where it was based. The acceleration on takeoff from Flying Circus Aerodrome, a grass field, was not as rapid as that at Manassas and since the aircraft was not accelerating as he was accustomed, he elected to abort the takeoff. When the aircraft drifted toward the left edge of the runway, he was unable to correct its movement with proper input to the controls."
End of report
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3200H
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-E
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3825
- Airframe hours
- 1,714
- Engine
- Continental C85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Veerayuth Didyasarin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 13, 1993 · 423 hours before
- Airport
- 3VA3 · Flying Circus, runway 36, 2,500 × 250 ft, grass/turf
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
- 39
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 21 in this make and model · 3,300 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Observed at
- IAD, 27 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.