Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C accident near Corning, Iowa, December 5, 2022
On December 5, 2022 at about 6:40 pm local time, a 1946 Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, registered N99345, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Corning, Iowa (Corning Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstructions during a go-around, which resulted in impact with powerlines, a tree, and the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 5, 2022 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Corning, Iowa · Corning Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C, built 1946 · all ERCOUPE 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N99345 · registry record · serial 1968
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot was returning the airplane to his home airport following the completion of an annual inspection. Although there were no witnesses to the accident, one person near the airport saw the airplane approach “low and fast,” and another heard the sound of an engine “revving” before hearing the sound of impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane impacted a powerline and a tree before contacting the ground. The airplane came to rest inverted about 500 ft beyond the departure end of the runway and was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. Examination of the airframe, engine, and propeller did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot’s logbook was not available for review, and his total flight experience could not be determined. Based on aircraft maintenance records, the pilot had accrued about 35 hours in the accident airplane since he purchased it about four years before the accident. The pilot did not hold, nor had he ever held, a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. Given the location of the airplane and the information provided by witnesses, it is likely that the pilot was attempting to conduct a go-around when the accident occurred, and failed to maintain sufficient altitude to avoid obstructions at the departure end of the runway, which resulted in impact with powerlines, a tree, and the ground. An autopsy of the pilot identi?ed extensive natural disease, including severe atherosclerosis of his cerebral arteries, coronary arteries, aorta, and kidney. Given the limited available information about the circumstances of the accident, whether the pilot's cardiovascular disease contributed to the outcome could not be determined. Toxicological testing detected the potentially impairing antihistamine medications diphenhydramine and cetirizine. Diphenhydramine and cetirizine independently can cause drowsiness and difficulty concentrating; combination use in elderly persons increases the risk of impairment in thinking, judgement, and motor coordination. It is not known whether the pilot’s ability to ?y the aircraft was impacted by his use of these medications as his level of ?ying experience was limited. The contribution to the accident of these medications individually or in combination could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 2022; 0.5 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 78Y Maryville MO at 12:00 pm
- Destination: CRZ Corning IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KCSQ, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCSQ 051835Z AUTO 34004KT 10SM CLR 06/M04 A2977 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23FA059.