Ercoupe 415-D accident near Waupun, Wisconsin, July 23, 2023
On July 23, 2023, a 1946 Ercoupe 415-D, registered N415JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Waupun, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s decision to take off without correcting a misinstalled fuel cap, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation caused by improper venting of the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2023
- Place
- Waupun, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-D, built 1946 · all 415-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N415JC · registry record · serial 3728
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a cross-country flight, the engine rpm dropped and the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restore engine power without success. The pilot established that the engine was likely starved of fuel and elected to perform a forced landing into a marsh. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The pilot stated that they departed with about 28 gallons of fuel on board. After the airplane was fueled, the line technician placed the vented fuel cap on backwards. The pilot elected to continue the flight to the destination and address the misinstallation upon arrival. After the accident all of the fuel tanks were empty; however, law enforcement reported that an unknown quantity of fuel had leaked from the left fuel tank. A postaccident examination confirmed that the vented fuel cap was on backwards on the outboard fuel tank. An examination of the remaining fuel system and the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The lack of venting from the misinstalled fuel cap likely precluded fuel from flowing from that fuel tank, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
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
- Fuel starvation during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,395 hours in all; 1,326 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 29, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,378.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 15, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KCID Cedar Rapids IA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: KOSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KFLD, 12 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KFLD 230053Z AUTO 20008KT 10SM VCTS CLR 23/16 A2983 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW-N SLP096 T02280156
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | 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 CEN23LA322.