Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Wixom, Michigan, November 25, 1984
On November 25, 1984 at about 9:55 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N2047H, was destroyed in an accident near Wixom, Michigan (Spencer Memorial 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
- November 25, 1984 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Wixom, Michigan · Spencer Memorial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N2047H · no longer on the register · serial 2670
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH POWER LINES WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A LANDING. THE PASSENGER RELATED THAT THE SUN WAS VERY LOW ON THE HORIZON, AND WHILE LOOKING TOWARD THE SUN & HAZE, THE VISIBILITY WAS LIMITED. AS THE ACFT TURNED ON FINAL APPROACH, A LARGE FLOCK OF BIRDS FLEW IN FRONT THE PLANE. THE PLT DOVE THE ACFT TO MISS THE BIRDS & THE PASSENGER FELT THIS MANEUVER PUT THE ACFT LOW ON FINAL APPROACH. HE STATED THAT NEITHER HE NOR THE PLT SAW THE POWER LINES UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. A TOXICOLOGICAL EXAM OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.109%.
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: 339 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 1G4 at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from PTK, 10 miles away
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.