Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D accident near Abingdon, Illinois, December 29, 2007
On December 29, 2007 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D, registered N94131, was substantially damaged in an accident near Abingdon, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loose clamp on the throttle cable which prevented application of engine power. A factor in the accident was the low altitude when the throttle cable slipped.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 29, 2007 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Abingdon, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D
- Registration
- N94131 · registry record · serial 1454
- 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 he performed a fly-by at a restricted landing area and when he applied power the engine did not respond. He attempted a 180 degree turn to land on the runway in the opposite direction, but the right wing tip struck the ground prior to the completion of the turn. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that a clamp attached to the engine mount that secured the throttle cable to the engine mount structure had rotated. This prevented the opening of the carburetor butterfly when the throttle was advanced. Additional information obtained during the investigation revealed that the pilot's most recent application for a medical certificate was denied on November 14, 2003. Federal Aviation Administration regulations state that a person operating a airplane as a light sport aircraft must have been found eligible for the issuance of at least a third-class airman medical certificate at the time of his or her most recent application if that person has applied for a medical certificate in the past. In addition, the accident airplane, an Ercoupe 415D, which has a maximum gross weight of 1,400 pounds, does not comply with the 1,320 pound maximum gross weight limitation prescribed in the regulations.
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: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine sea
- Flight time: 710 hours in all; 164 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: None
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GBG Galesburg IL at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 CHI08CA056.