Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Ceresco, Michigan, May 11, 1983
On May 11, 1983 at about 11:23 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N3355H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ceresco, Michigan (Ray Farm airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- May 11, 1983 · about 11:23 pm local time
- Place
- Ceresco, Michigan · Ray Farm · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N3355H · no longer on the register · serial 3980
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE ACFT WAS NORMAL UNTIL HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND. THE ACFT BEGAN TO LOOSE TOO MUCH ALTITUDE, SO HE ADVANCED THE THROTTLE, THEN THE ENG LOST POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT THE TOP OF A TREE SHORT OF THE RWY, THEN CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT CABLE WAS LOOSE & HEAVY SOOT DEPOSITS WERE FOUND IN THE EXHAUST STACKS & ON THE SPARK PLUGS. THE TEMP & DEW POINT WERE 74 & 42 DEG, RESPECTIVELY. ACCORDING TO ICING PROBABILITY CHARTS, SERIOUS CARBURETOR ICING COULD OCCUR AT GLIDE POWER.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 81 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,276 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from BTL, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.