Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C N99766
13 May 1989 · Troy, North Carolina, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 13 May 1989 at about 23:20 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C registered N99766, operated by Morgan, Kenneth H., was involved in an accident near Troy, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 23:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Troy, North Carolina, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.3609, -79.8902
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C
- Registration
- N99766
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Morgan, Kenneth H.
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Robbins → Wadesboro
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL89LA146
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
AN UNDETERMINED POWERPLANT PROBLEM, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT/MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY INSPECTED BEFORE FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DELAY IN MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) IN THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER A LOW PASS OVER AN OPEN FIELD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BEGAN BURNING. ONE WITNESS NOTED THE ACFT HAD CIRCLED THE AREA 2 OR 3 TIMES AT LOW ALT BEFORE THE ACDNT & THAT THE ENG WAS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. THE WITNESS ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WERE SVRL OPEN FIELDS IN THE VICINITY. AN EXAM REVEALED THE IGNITION SYS WIRES TO THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DETERIORATED. NO OTHER PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT; HOWEVER, THE ENG WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPN WAS ON 11/14/83; FLT TIME SINCE THEN WAS ABOUT 13 HRS. THE PLT WAS AN IA-RATED MECHANIC, WHO HAD BEEN HIRED BY THE NEW OWNER TO RETURN THE ACFT TO AN AIRWORTHY STATUS AND FERRY IT TO ANOTHER ARPT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415D | Vancouver, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C | Ennis, Montana, United States | Smith, Walter, J | No injuries | - |
| 29 Dec 1989 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-CD | Lizton, Indiana, United States | ORR, ROY A. | No injuries | - |
| 24 May 1988 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C | Whiteville, North Carolina, United States | Bennie J. Ward | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Jun 1988 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415C | Steep Falls, Maine, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Aug 1988 | Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C | Springfield, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150F | Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150 | New Bern, North Carolina, United States | Air East | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1989 | Cessna A185F | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | James E. Woodcock | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 May 1989 | Cessna 172N | Fuquay, North Carolina, United States | House, Harper H. | No injuries | - |
| 27 May 1989 | Cessna 177 | Indian Trail, North Carolina, United States | Ronald Stiles | Serious injuries | - |
| 30 May 1989 | Boeing E75 (PT-13D) | Jacksonville, North Carolina, United States | Cary J. Myers | Fatal | 1 |