Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Raymond, Illinois, September 25, 1983
On September 25, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N3184, was destroyed in an accident near Raymond, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- September 25, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Raymond, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N3184 · no longer on the register · serial 3809
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A WX BRIEFING AT 1433 CDT, THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT 500 FT CEILINGS, 2 MI VISIBILITIES, RAIN SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS. HE THEN TOOK OFF FROM BISMARK, MO WITH NO FLT PLAN. REPORTEDLY, WX WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLT WHICH DETERIORATED AS HE PROCEEDED ALONG THE ROUTE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INVERTED, IN A CORN FIELD NEAR RAYMOND, IL. A WITNESS SAID THAT HE SAW THE ACFT 'GOING OR SPINNING STRAIGHT DOWN; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL CRASH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THE OUTER 4-FT SECTION OF THE LEFT WING & THE LEFT AILERON HAD SEPARATED IN FLT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD SEPARATED UPWARD & AFT, NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR CORROSION WAS FOUND IN THE FRACTURE AREA. THE RIGHT WING TIP HAD ALSO FAILED, BUT IT HAD NOT SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. AN NTSB WX SUMMARY SHOWED THAT THE CLOUD BASES WERE AT APPX 700 FT AGL & THE CLOUD TOPS WERE AT ABOUT 14,000 FT MSL. ABOUT 50 MI NORTHEAST AT DECATUR, IL, THERE WAS A 2000 FT OVERCAST. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH CERTIFIED TURN & BANK OR ATTITUDE INDICATOR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,343 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 5, 1983; 331 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bismark MO at 5:50 pm
- Destination: Lincoln IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 023° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; scat at 800 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N3184 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.