Ercoupe F 1 accident near West Kingston, Rhode Island, September 21, 2020
On September 21, 2020 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1959 Ercoupe F 1, registered N3000G, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near West Kingston, Rhode Island (Richmond Airport West Kingston). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to conduct a proper preflight inspection and ensure the fuel was uncontaminated, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 2020 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- West Kingston, Rhode Island · Richmond Airport West Kingston · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe F 1 Undesignat, built 1959
- Registration
- N3000G · registry record · serial 5692
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, during initial climb out, the pilot noted a decrease in engine performance and that the airplane was unable to climb or maintain altitude. After unsuccessfully attempting to troubleshoot the issue, he performed a forced landing in field that was populated by solar panels. During the landing the airplane struck several of the solar panels, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system revealed the presence of water and other contaminates in the gascolator, carburetor bowl, carburetor inlet screen, and engine-driven fuel pump. The examination did not otherwise discover evidence of any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that while he performed his preflight inspection, which included sampling fuel from the airplane’s the header fuel tank, he historically always had difficulty with water in the fuel, specifically from the header tank and gascolator. Given this information it is likely that the partial loss of engine power the pilot experienced during the climb was due to contamination of the engine’s fuel supply with water and debris.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Inadequate inspection
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,229 hours in all; 287 in this make and model; 13.5 in the last 90 days; 7.9 in the last 30 days; 1,132 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 24, 2019
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,426 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 10, 2019; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 4,481 hours total
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.47 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from WST, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on June 9, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation_pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Airplane & Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array_accident Site and Airplane Damage | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.