# NTSB NYC94LA153: Ercoupe 415C, N94151, Scriba, NY, August 6, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1994, 16:41 local (20:41 UTC) - Place: Scriba, NY - Coordinates: 43.449493, -76.500282 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4495&lon=-76.5003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA153 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall and inflight collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a 1600-foot grass airstrip. According to the pilot, liftoff occurred halfway down the runway and the airplane outclimbed trees at the end of the runway. The pilot stated, 'shortly after clearing the trees by 10 to 15 feet, the aircraft settled back and traveled a few seconds more until the right wing snagged a tree. The aircraft pivoted downward to the right and came to rest in low trees.' The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1994 about 1645 eastern daylight time, N94151, a Ercoupe 415C airplane, a personal flight, collided with trees during takeoff at Lakeside Airport, Scriba, New York. Visual meteorological conditions existed. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The destination was Seneca Falls, New York. The flight was operated under 14 CFR 91. The pilot was a certificated flight instructor, he had approximately 1200 total hours, and 600 hours in type. He stated the aircraft was departing to the north on a 1600 foot private grass airstrip. The pilot reported the wind was from the northwest at about 10 mph. He stated the weight and balance was within its limits, and the engine ground run-up was normal. According to the pilot lift off occurred halfway down the runway; the airplane subsequently cleared trees at the end of the runway. The pilot stated, "shortly after clearing the trees by ten to fifteen feet, the aircraft settled back and traveled a few seconds more until the right wing snagged a tree. The aircraft pivoted downward to the right and came to rest in low trees." The pilot reported no mechanical problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94151](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94151-2006-05-05), registration cancelled 2006-05-05, S/N 1474, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1474 - Airframe hours: 2345 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Joshua Housenkecht - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 1993, 50 hours before - Airport: Lakeside Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 600 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 10 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F ## 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 19940806020639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940806020639A), Aug 6, 1994: Univar 415C, Scriba, NY, Substantial damage. Departed tree surrounded short strip. Cleared trees on climbout but settled into same. Failed obtain climb speed. 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.