Ercoupe 415-C accident near Athens, Michigan, August 24, 1982
On August 24, 1982, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N2928H, was destroyed in an accident near Athens, Michigan (David'S Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 1982
- Place
- Athens, Michigan · David'S Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2928H · registry record · serial 3553
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS LANDING ON RWY 27 WHICH HAS A 350 FT DISPLACED THRESHOLD DUE TO 24 FT HIGH POWER LINES ON THE APPROACH. A WITNESS STATED THE PLT WAS LOW & NARROWLY MISSED THE WIRES ON THE FIRST TOUCH & GO. DURING THE SECOND APPROACH THE PLT WAS NOTICEABLY LOWER & IT WAS OBVIOUS HE WAS GOING TO HIT THE WIRES. THERE WAS NO ATTEMPT TO MISS THE WIRES, NO POWER INCREASE & THE ACFT DID NOT PULL UP OR TAKE ANY EVASIVE MANEUVER. THE LANDING WAS BEING EXECUTED INTO THE SETTING SUN. THE PLT HAD LANDED AT THE PRIVATE FIELD ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.
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: 293 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,300 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A65-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Battle Creek MI at 7:30 pm
- Destination: C Battle Creek MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 165°F (74°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.