Amateur-built EMERAUDE SSE-328R accident near Elyria, Ohio, July 2, 1988
On July 2, 1988 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built EMERAUDE SSE-328R, registered N85HT, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elyria, Ohio (Elyria airport). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1988 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Elyria, Ohio · Elyria · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EMERAUDE SSE-328R EMERAUDE S
- Registration
- N85HT · no longer on the register · serial 1514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE ENG SEEMED TO LOSE POWER AS THE ACFT WAS CLIMBING THRU ABOUT 50 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND, CROSSED A ROAD & COLLIDED WITH A CHAIN LINK FENCE. IT CAME TO REST ABOUT 150 FT FROM WHERE IT 1ST CONTACTED THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACFT WAS AT A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK DRG TAKEOFF & APPEARED TO STALL. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT OR ENG WAS FOUND. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FOR THIS HOME BUILT ACFT WAS FOR FIXED CONVENTIONAL GEAR AND A 72 INCH PROP. HOWEVER, THE ACFT WAS BUILT WITH RETRACTABLE TRICYCLE GEAR, ITS EMPTY WEIGHT WAS INCREASED BY 400 LBS, AND A 64 INCH PROP (WITH A DIFFERENT PITCH) WAS INSTALLED. THE PLT DID NOT HAVE A RATING IN SEL AIRPLANES. HE HAD A BIENNIAL REVIEW IN A C-152 20 MOS BEFORE THE ACDT.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,555 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,081 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 62 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,003 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,047 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from CIE, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.