Accident Ercoupe 415C N2628H, Thursday 17 May 1990

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Date:	Thursday 17 May 1990
Time:	17:00 LT
Type:	Ercoupe 415C
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N2628H
MSN:	3253
Year of manufacture:	1946
Engine model:	Continental C-85-12F
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Searcy, AR - United States of America
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Searcy, AR (M07)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING LOCALLY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. HE INITIATED A LANDING ON A ROADWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RICE FIELD, BUT DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS MUD AND WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND STRAINER. A TOXICOLOGY TEST SHOWED THE PILOT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.18%.

Probable Cause: PILOT IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, AND FUEL CONTAMINATION WITH WATER AND DIRT (MUD) IN THE SYSTEM.

Accident investigation: