Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Whiteville, North Carolina, May 24, 1988
On May 24, 1988, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N41886, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whiteville, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1988
- Place
- Whiteville, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N41886 · no longer on the register · serial 116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SKIP AND LOSE PWR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTURE. THE ENGINE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST ALL PWR AND THE STUDENT MADE A FORCED LDG IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LDG. POST-CRASH EXAM OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF ABOUT 2 OZ OF WATER IN THE FUEL STRAINER. IN ADDITION, BITS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR IN THE MAIN METERING JET PASSAGEWAY. THE SOURCE OF THE METAL BITS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE METAL BITS WERE TOO LARGE TOO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE FUEL STRAINER OR THE CARB FILTER SCREEN. THE AIRPLANE WAS FUELED W/ AUTO GAS WHICH WAS OBTAINED AT THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THE USE OF AUTOGAS IN THE AIRPLANE WAS STC-APPROVED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN OPERATED APPROX 123 HRS SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION, 7 MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 37 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 16, 1987; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 60J Ocean Isle Bch NC
- Destination: CPC Whiteville NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.