Univair ERCOUPE 415E accident near Willis, Virginia, November 1, 1993
On November 1, 1993 at about 1:49 pm local time, a Univair ERCOUPE 415E, registered N94440, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willis, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the airplane's throttle cable fitting due to undetermined reasons, which prevented the pilot from applying power above engine idle. A factor in this accident was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to complete a forced landing without damaging the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 1, 1993 · about 1:49 pm local time
- Place
- Willis, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Univair ERCOUPE 415E ERCOUPE 41
- Registration
- N94440 · no longer on the register · serial 5012
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that while cruising at an altitude of 3,500 feet mean sea level, he attempted to increase power. He said that at that point, he lost throttle control and the engine went to idle. The pilot executed a forced landing and collided with the top of automobile in a residential area during the landing. Because of the mountainous, forested terrain he said he was unable to reach a suitable landing area. An examination of the airplane revealed the throttle cable assembly fitting failed and separated from its housing which prevented the pilot from manipulating the throttle.
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: 1,332 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,332 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BCB Blacksburg VA at 1:30 pm
- Destination: AAF Appalachicola FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 005° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.