Deitch Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17037
Tuesady, August 27, 1985 18:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE SECOND TAKEOFF ATTEMPT FROM A PVT GRASS STRIP WITNESSES HEARD THE ENG SPUTTER THEN QUIT SOON AFTER LIFTOFF. THE ACFT THEN DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT AND BURNED. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN ADN WAS KEPT OUT OF DOORS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE THE FABRIC WINGS WERE REFINISHED. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLT OF THE ACFT SINCE THE REFINISHING WAS COMPLETED. INSPECTION OF THE WRECKAGE DISCLOSED THE PRESENCE OF WATER AND SLUDGE THROUGHOUT THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CARLISLE
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 17037
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DEITCH
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 300
Airport Elevation 420
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1745 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID HAR
Elevation of weather observation facility 347
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 500
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2169
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 27 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29234
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3064H
NTSB Number NYC85FA222
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415-C
Aircraft Series Identifier 415-C
Aircraft Serial Number 3689
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RICHARD D. NALE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 322
Aircraft Owner City CARLISLE
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 17013
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City CARLIISLE
Departure State PA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1839
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 30
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --