Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415 accident near Plainwell, Michigan, May 27, 1984
On May 27, 1984 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415, registered N2622H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainwell, Michigan (Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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 27, 1984 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Plainwell, Michigan · Rla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415
- Registration
- N2622H · registry record · serial 2347
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF A GRASS STRIP INTO TALLER GRASS WHICH INCREASED THE DRAG ON THE LEFT MAIN GEAR. THE ACFT SWERVED FARTHER OFF PATH UNTIL A FURROW WAS STRUCK AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. LOCAL WINDS WERE REPORTED FROM 150 DEGREES AT 8 KTS. THE PLTS LAST BFR WAS 49 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE.
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: 190 hours in all; 80 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,401 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1993; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental 85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from AZO, 15 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.