Ercoupe 415-C N94320

Summary

On 24 October 2007 at about 13:20 local time, a Ercoupe 415-C registered N94320 was involved in an accident near Stuart, Florida, 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

24 October 2007 at 13:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Stuart, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Witham Field (SUA)

Coordinates

27.2019, -80.2356

Aircraft

Ercoupe 415-C

Registration

N94320

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Pierce → Stuart

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08LA019

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a partially blocked fuel line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The Ercoupe 415-C was in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,000 feet mean sea level, when the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot performed the emergency checklist items, which included applying carburetor heat, without any change in engine performance, and subsequently ditched in a river. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane, which subsequently sank in saltwater. The airplane sustained damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, both wings and the propeller. The pilot reported that when the airplane was recovered, he observed contamination lodged in the fuel line leading to the gascolator. He did not observe any fuel contamination during his preflight inspection. The airplane was subsequently sold. The new owner confirmed the presence of a restriction in the fuel line. He further stated that after the fuel tanks and fuel lines were flushed, the engine was started and ran without any anomalies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.