# NTSB WPR19LA253: Ercoupe 415, N3816H, Maricopa, AZ, September 10, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 10, 2019, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, AZ - Coordinates: 32.990554, -111.917221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9906&lon=-111.9172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100228/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA253 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to prevent the student pilot from exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent spin. Contributing to the accident was the student pilot’s failure to make a positive transfer of airplane control when the flight instructor directed him to do so. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of policy/procedure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 191 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063032/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 200 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021535/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the takeoff roll for the instructional flight, the student pilot allowed the airplane to veer left of centerline multiple times, but the flight instructor corrected the airplane’s track back to runway centerline with steering control inputs. As the airplane lifted off the ground, the student pilot abruptly pitched the airplane’s nose up, and the airplane began to bank to the left. The flight instructor stated twice that he had the flight controls; however, the student pilot’s continued inputs prevented the flight instructor from gaining control of the airplane. Afterward, the airplane stalled; the student pilot relinquished airplane control to the flight instructor; and the airplane entered a spin and collided with the roof of a two-story airport building, which caused substantial damage to the airplane and serious injuries to the airplane occupants. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preexisting malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that full operation of the elevator was not possible while the flight instructor was trying to manipulate the controls and the student pilot was not relinquishing the controls, which led to the roll to the left and the subsequent exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack. Even though the student pilot was at the controls before and at the time of the stall, the flight instructor had the ultimate responsibility for the safety of the flight, especially given that the accident flight was only the student’s second time receiving instruction in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2019, about 0830 mountain standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C airplane, N3816H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the Ak-Chin Regional Airport (A39), Maricopa, Arizona. The student pilot and the flight instructor were seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. In a postaccident statement, the flight instructor indicated that he briefed the student pilot on the maneuvers that they would be practicing and had the student describe each maneuver. The briefing also included the instructor’s expectation for a positive exchange of flight controls in the event of an emergency. The student pilot acknowledged this information. The flight instructor and the student pilot then performed the preflight. According to the flight instructor, the student pilot taxied to the runway, and he was instructed to perform a short-field takeoff. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left of centerline, and the flight instructor told the student pilot to return to runway centerline. The flight instructor stated that he “corrected three times with the yoke” before the airplane lifted off the ground. As the airplane reached 65 knots, the student pilot rotated abruptly by “applying a strong amount” of back pressure,” which caused the airplane to pitch up and bank to the left. The flight instructor stated that he yelled, “I have the flight controls” as he applied forward pressure to level the wings, but the airplane did not respond to his control inputs. The flight instructor then looked to his left and saw that the student pilot was still flying the airplane. The flight instructor repeated that he had the flight controls and tried a second time to lower the nose and level the wings, again with no response from the airplane. -story airport building, as shown in the figure. The airplane stalled at an altitude of about 75 ft above ground level; subsequently, the student pilot placed his hands in the air and told the flight instructor, “you have the controls.” The airplane then entered a spin and collided with a two Figure. Accident airplane (Source: FAA). The owner of the airplane (and the flight club that owned and maintained the airplane) witnessed the accident. The owner saw the airplane depart from the runway and travel in the direction of the airport’s administration building. The airplane was at an altitude of about 50 ft above ground level, and the engine sounded normal. The airplane then pitched up slightly, rolled to the left, and impacted the roof of the building nose first. The owner further stated that the accident flight was the second training flight for the student pilot in the accident airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed impact damage to the wings and fuselage. Flight control continuity was established. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions orfailures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3816H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3816H-2021-04-03), registration cancelled 2021-04-03, S/N 4517, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415 (C) - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4517 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 3879.3 - Engines: Continental C85F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Desert Aero Club LLC - Registered owner: Desert Aero Club LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2019 - Airport: A39, Ak-Chin Rgnl, runway 22, 4,751 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 40; injuries: serious; flight instructor, private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 647 total, 307 as pilot in command - Student pilot; injuries: serious; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 10 knots, gusting 13 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: A39 AWOS ## 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 20190910023439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190910023439A), Sep 10, 2019: Ercoupe 415-C, Maricopa, AZ, Destroyed. Aircraft crashed after take off. Both pilot occupants seriously injured. Eyewitness stated he saw the aircraft above the administration building in a nose high… 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.