Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C accident near Hamburg, Michigan, August 25, 1990
On August 25, 1990 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C, registered N2977H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hamburg, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POWERPLANT FAILURE DUE TO FOREIGN OBJECT IN THE CARBURETOR RESULTING IN FUEL STARVATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 1990 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hamburg, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C ERCOUPE 41
- Registration
- N2977H · registry record · serial 3602
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT ABOUT 2500 FT MSL THE ENGINE RPM REDUCED TO IDLE. AN EMERGENCY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH POWER LINES, THEN THE TERRAIN. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE REMOVED FROM THE WRECKAGE BY THE EMERGENCY CREW USING, 'JAWS OF LIFE'. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED A PIECE OF FOREIGN MATERIAL HAD LODGED IN THE MAIN CARBURETOR JET CAUSING THE FUEL RESTRICTION AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,673 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 12, 1990; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 45G Brighton MI at 8:15 pm
- Destination: Clinton MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from JXN, 30 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.