Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Ercoupe 415-C, N3437H: Accident occurred February 25, 2020 at Torrance Municipal Airport / Zamperini Field Airport (KTOA), Los Angeles County, California

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. 

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Long Beach, California

Location: Torrance, CA

Accident Number: WPR20LA094
Date & Time: 02/25/2020, 1220 PST
Registration: N3437H
Aircraft: Ercoupe 415
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On February 25, 2020, about 1220 Pacific standard time, an Ercoupe 415C, N3437H, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Zamperini Field Airport, Torrance, California. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot stated that following departure, she had completed two touch-and-go practice takeoffs and landings without mishap. During the third takeoff, when the airplane was about ¾ down runway 29R, at an altitude of about 200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot opted to make a 90-degree left turn to land at the airport on taxiway bravo. After touchdown, despite the pilot's aggressive braking action, the airplane veered left and collided with two parked, unoccupied airplanes.

The airplane was recovered for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Ercoupe
Registration: N3437H
Model/Series: 415 C
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KTOA, 90 ft msl
Observation Time:
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 10°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 280°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.17 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Torrance, CA (TOA)
Destination: Torrance, CA (TOA)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.803056, -118.338056





A plane crashed into two parked aircraft along the taxiway of a Torrance airport Tuesday afternoon, and all three sustained damage officials said.

The incident unfolded about 12:15 p.m. at Zamperini Field, 3301 Airport Drive.

The pilot of a single-engine Ercoupe 415-C made an emergency landing on a taxiway while performing touch-and-goes when it crashed into two unoccupied parked planes, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor told KTLA.

The two other planes were described as being Piper PA28 and a Cessna 206.

Two people in the Ercoupe when it crashed, but it is unclear if they were injured.

All three planes sustained damage during the incident, one of which had its tail partially torn off, aerial video from Sky5 showed.

Several planes remained on the taxiway after the incident, the video showed.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://ktla.com

1 comment:

  1. Looks like he had a partial power engine fail, landed across runway on taxiway, and forgot to cut the mixture and forgot to turn more to the right to avoid hitting those 2 airplanes. Another klutz produceing problems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kcW1d65_1c&lc=UgyfWPbIDXzkpTV-b8R4AaABAg.95klyHbkXIQ991G92o3nzp&ab_channel=RumbleViral

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