Griffiss Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rome, New York 13440
Saturday, March 4, 2000 17:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot departed and flew to his intended destination to conduct some touch-and-go landings. The weather was 'excellent VFR,' and the winds were from the northeast approximately 12 knots. The first touch-and-go to runway 33 was completed without incident. On the second touch-and-go, at 300 feet agl, the pilot inadvertently selected the mixture control to off. Realizing the error, the pilot elected to continue the approach without trying to restart the engine because of altitude remaining. The airplane developed a 'high' rate of descent, and with insufficient time and altitude to regain 'adequate' airspeed, the pilot unsuccessfully attempted to flare the airplane for touchdown. The airplane impacted the runway approximately 10 degrees nose down, and 50 knots. The pilot secured the airplane's systems. Then, both he and his passenger exited the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot inadvertently selecting the mixture control to off, resulting in a total loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/4/2000
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ROME
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13440
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport GRIFFISS AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RME
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 504
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 143
Weather Observation Facility ID UCA
Elevation of weather observation facility 450
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 8500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 5 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 743
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 1:30PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3719H
NTSB Number NYC00LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415-C
Aircraft Series Identifier 415-C
Aircraft Serial Number 4344
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 1311
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILLIAM CRAIGMYLE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 26 COLLEGE TER
Aircraft Owner City ONEONTA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13820
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code UCA
Departure City UTICA
Departure State NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1620
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RME
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 11820
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --