Pilot Debrief

ERCOUPE 415 D near Monmouth, IL — 2018-06-24

Final reportCEN18FA235
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Date
2018-06-24
Location
Monmouth, IL, USA
Airport
C66
Aircraft
ERCOUPE 415 D
Registration
N94070
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot and a pilot-rated passenger departed on a local flight to complete touch-and-go landings at a nearby airport. The airplane was in the traffic pattern when witnesses reported that the airplane flew very low over their house and that the engine was "sputtering and backfiring." The airplane flew about 30 ft above them, made a steep left bank toward the airport, then impacted the ground in a wooded area. A postimpact fire consumed a majority of the airplane; the propeller exhibited signatures consistent with a lack of engine power at impact.Although impact and thermal damage precluded a detailed examination of the engine and fuel system, examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or abnormalities that would have led to a loss of engine power. The investigation was unable to determine the cause of the loss of engine power based on the available information.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the approach when engine issues were first noted.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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