Event MIA06CA027

Factual narrative

On December 11, 2005, about 1100 eastern standard time, an Engineering and research Ercoupe 415-C, N99009, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight crashed while attempting to take off from Love Landing, Wiersdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated flight instructor and one passenger received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he attempted the takeoff uphill, on a soggy turf runway, which previously had received about 24 hours of rain. He further stated that the acceleration was restricted due to the runway conditions, and as he progressively thought he would become airborne, the airplane would transit through a soft spot on the runway, and decelerate. He said he should have aborted the take off sooner, but he did not, and when finally applied the brakes and attempted to stop the airplane probably hit a drainage ditch, became airborne for a short time prior to hitting the ground, and then it proceeded down a bank and nosed-over. The pilot stated that he did not use all the available runway, and he attempted the takeoff uphill, on a soggy turf runway, which previously had received about 24 hours of rain. He further stated that the acceleration was restricted due to the runway conditions, and as he progressively thought he would become airborne, the airplane would transit through a soft spot on the runway, and decelerate. He said he should have aborted the takeoff sooner, but he did not, and when he finally applied the brakes and attempted to stop the airplane, he probably hit a drainage ditch, became airborne for a short time prior to hitting the ground, and then proceeded down a bank and nosed over. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12