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March 2, 1982 · Ercoupe 415-C · N93846

Topeka, KS

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 2, 1982
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Topeka, KS
Aircraft
Ercoupe 415-C
Tail Number
N93846
Operator
L O Ledbetteo
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC82FCG17

The aircraft crashed and burned during takeoff at 1303 CST. The pilot received second degree burns over 20 percent of his body and expired on 3/9/82. Two sailplanes were damaged by impact and fire, and a third sailplane received fire damage. The pilot reported that prior to the accident, he made two touch and go landings in calm air without incident. He further stated that on his third takeoff, he started a turn at 75 ft AGL and was caught by a sudden gust of wind which caused his right wing to drop. The aircraft crashed before he could regain control. He reported that there was no malfunction of the engine or aircraft prior to impact. A witness reported that the wind was calm prior to the accident, then suddenly became gusty from the north at 15 mph. Eight miles southeast at the Phillip Billard Airport, there was a wind shift at 1344 CST from 040 degrees at 4 knots to 010 degrees at 13 knots.

Full Narrative

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED DURING TAKEOFF AT 1303 CST. THE PILOT RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS OVER 20 PER CENT OF HIS BODY AND EXPIRED ON 3/9/82. TWO SAILPLANES WERE DAMAGED BY IMPACT AND FIRE, AND A THIRD SAILPLANE RECEIVED FIRE DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE MADE TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN CALM AIR WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT ON HIS THIRD TAKEOFF, HE STARTED A TURN AT 75 FT AGL AND WAS CAUGHT BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND WHICH CAUSED HIS RIGHT WING TO DROP. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED BEFORE HE COULD REGAIN CONTROL. HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO IMPACT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS CALM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THEN SUDDENLY BECAME GUSTY FROM THE NORTH AT 15 MPH. EIGHT MILES SOUTHEAST AT THE PHILLIP BILLARD AIRPORT, THERE WAS A WIND SHIFT AT 1344 CST FROM 040 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS TO 010 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:03 CST
Nearest AirportMesa Verde (0nm N)
Runway10
Runway Length2800 ft
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftErcoupe 415-C
Tail NumberN93846
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorL O Ledbetteo
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 63 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind70° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 20000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data