Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Troy, North Carolina, May 13, 1989
On May 13, 1989 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N99766, was destroyed in an accident near Troy, North Carolina. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN UNDETERMINED POWERPLANT PROBLEM, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THE PILOT/MECHANIC'S FAILURE TO ASSURE THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY INSPECTED BEFORE FLIGHT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S DELAY IN MAKING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING, AND OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) IN THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1989 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Troy, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N99766 · no longer on the register · serial 2389
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A LOW PASS OVER AN OPEN FIELD, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES, CRASHED & BEGAN BURNING. ONE WITNESS NOTED THE ACFT HAD CIRCLED THE AREA 2 OR 3 TIMES AT LOW ALT BEFORE THE ACDNT & THAT THE ENG WAS RUNNING ERRATICALLY. THE WITNESS ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WERE SVRL OPEN FIELDS IN THE VICINITY. AN EXAM REVEALED THE IGNITION SYS WIRES TO THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DETERIORATED. NO OTHER PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE ACDNT; HOWEVER, THE ENG WAS DAMAGED BY FIRE. THE LAST ANNUAL INSPN WAS ON 11/14/83; FLT TIME SINCE THEN WAS ABOUT 13 HRS. THE PLT WAS AN IA-RATED MECHANIC, WHO HAD BEEN HIRED BY THE NEW OWNER TO RETURN THE ACFT TO AN AIRWORTHY STATUS AND FERRY IT TO ANOTHER ARPT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 321 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,648 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 14, 1983; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Robbins NC at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 3A3 Wadesboro NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from CLT, 53 miles away
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.