Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C N2237H

Summary

On 16 August 1997 at about 20:43 local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C registered N2237H was involved in an accident near Siler City, North Carolina, United States. 2 people were 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

16 August 1997 at 20:43

Classification

Accident

Location

Siler City, North Carolina, United States

Coordinates

35.7200, -79.4599

Aircraft

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp ) 415-C

Registration

N2237H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Marion → Asheboro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA97LA234

Nobody was injured.

Failure of the pilot to obtain a preflight weather briefing, inaccurate weather evaluation by the pilot, and his poor in-flight planning decision for descending too low to read a road sign.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot did not obtain a preflight weather briefing before departure then shortly after takeoff, his passenger noted fuel coming from the right wing fuel tank cap. The flight continued then 20-30 minutes later, the right wing fuel tank sight gauge indicated 1/4 capacity. He elected to divert to the Asheboro airport to determine the fuel problem but due to his wind overcorrection, he was unable to locate the airport. He then elected to fly to the Siler City airport and after recognizing a nearby highway, he elected to descend to read a highway sign. The airplane collided with an unmarked span guy wire that ranges in height to 28-36 feet above ground level. The airplane then collided with and remained suspended in trees.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.