Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD accident near Charles City, Virginia, September 28, 1993
On September 28, 1993 at about 3:23 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD, registered N4576B, was destroyed in an accident near Charles City, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot exceeded the design stress limits of the airplane which resulted in an in-flight break-up.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1993 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- Charles City, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registration
- N4576B · no longer on the register · serial 4219
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS ON A VFR LOCAL FLIGHT WHEN AN IN-FLIGHT BREAK-UP OCCURRED. WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A HALF SQUARE MILE AREA. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE CENTER SECTION BEAM ASSEMBLY (ATTACHED TO THE WINGS FRONT SPARS) FAILED IN POSITIVE OVERLOAD. ALL FRACTURE SURFACES EXHIBITED FEATURES TYPICAL OF OVERSTRESS. PRIMARY RADAR RETURNS ( REFLECTION OF RADAR SIGNAL WHICH INDICATE A TWO DIMENSIONAL POSITION IN SPACE -RANGE AND AZIMUTH) WERE THE ONLY DATA RECORDED FOR THE AIRPLANE. SECONDARY DATA, WHICH REPORTS THE ALTITUDE OF AN AIRPLANE, WERE NOT RECORDED. NO OTHER AIRCRAFT WERE RECORDED ON RADAR NEAR THE ACCIDENT AREA AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT WEATHER REPORTS ISSUED FOR THE ACCIDENT AREA. THE POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATIONS OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRPLANE HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL FLIGHT TIME OF 2,2421 HOURS AND HAD A 100 HOUR INSPECTION ABOUT 71 HOURS PRIOR TO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 283 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 174 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,421 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1993; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JGG Williamsburg VA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from PHF, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.