Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D N3030H

Summary

On 15 March 1997 at about 22:48 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D registered N3030H was involved in an accident near Pacoima, California, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 March 1997 at 22:48

Classification

Accident

Location

Pacoima, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2495, -118.4103

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-D

Registration

N3030H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Oakland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX97FA123

2 people died.

improper maintenance/installation of electrical wiring, the lack of circuit protection, and subsequent in-flight electrical fire.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on a downwind departure, the pilot declared an emergency and requested an immediate landing. He was cleared to land on any runway. The pilot turned a close base entry to his departure runway, and the turn continued into a descending spiral to impact. Tower personnel observed smoke trailing from the aircraft at the time of the emergency. Postaccident examination revealed an improperly installed electrical system, which lacked circuit protection and proper use of aviation type wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.