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DEN83LA117

1983-05-22 · BIG PINEY, Wyoming, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport BPI

Current FAA registration · N3726H

Make / Model
ERCOUPE 415-C
Engine
CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES (75 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19550825
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A43E6B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, HE HELD THE ELEVATOR FULL BACK DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL UNTIL THE ACFT WAS 50 FT AGL, AND THEN ONLY RELEASED IT SLIGHTLY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AIRSPEED WAS 47 MPH AT 50 FT AND ABOUT 57 MPH AT 70 FT. THEN THE ACFT NOSE FELL AND THE ACFT STARTED TO SINK RAPIDLY. THE PILOT THEN TRIED TO PICK UP AIRSPEED AND RECOVER BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED TO SETTLE. JUST BEFORE GROUND IMPACT THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED BACK ELEVATOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE ACFT HIT ON THE NOSE GEAR, BOUNCED AND NOSED OVER AS IT LEFT THE RWY. THE BEST ANGLE OF CLIMB AIRSPEED (VX) IS 70 KNOTS. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_DEN83LA117.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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