Ercoupe 415-CD accident near Newaygo, Michigan, January 30, 2011
On January 30, 2011 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-CD, registered N127G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Newaygo, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of directional control during takeoff from a frozen lake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2011 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Newaygo, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-CD · all 415-CDs on the register
- Registration
- N127G · registry record · serial 4795
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was departing a plowed "airstrip" on an ice-covered lake. During the takeoff roll, the airplane veered to the left and the left wheel hit a snowbank on the left side of the airstrip. The airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced no mechanical malfunction or failure prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Snow/slush/ice covered › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 932 hours in all; 679 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Newaygo MI at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 08C Jenison MI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from GRR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N127G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.