Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Shelby, Michigan, November 3, 1990
On November 3, 1990 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N9409B, was destroyed in an accident near Shelby, Michigan (Oceana County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT INTO IMC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 1990 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Shelby, Michigan · Oceana County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N9409B · no longer on the register · serial 1421
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SHORT VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE AREA AROUND HIS HOME AIRPORT WAS FOGGED IN. VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3/4 OF A MILE WITH A CEILING VARYING FROM TREE TOP LEVEL TO 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE FLYING AROUND THE AREA FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES. THEY STATED IT WAS MAKING SOUNDS LIKE A 'CROP DUSTER'. TWO WITNESSES BRIEFLY SAW THE AIRPLANE COME OUT OF, AND RE-ENTER, THE LOW CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS, BANKING STEEPLY DURING A PULLUP MANEUVER AND STALLING. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE.
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: 700 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1990
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MKG Muskegon MI
- Destination: C04 Shelby MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Sky: overcast
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.