Erco 415C N99378

Summary

On 3 March 1990 at about 22:30 local time, a Erco 415C registered N99378, operated by Paxton, Thomas L., was involved in an accident near Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 March 1990 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, United States

Coordinates

36.6991, -106.5405

Aircraft

Erco 415C

Registration

N99378

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Paxton, Thomas L.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Taos → Durango

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN90LA069

Nobody was injured.

INDUCTION ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS INCLUDE CONTINUATION OF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME WITH A RECENTLY PURCHASED VFR EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. HER FATHER WAS IN ANOTHER PLANE, ACCOMPANYING HER. THE TWO PILOTS HAD NO INFLIGHT COMMUNICATION. THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS, SNOW SHOWERS, ICING CONDITIONS, REDUCED VISIBILITY, AND IMC OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. SHE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE RPM AT FULL THROTTLE, PITOT ICING AND LOSS OF ALTITUDE. SHE SIGHTED A HIGHWAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE HIGHWAY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.