Ercoupe 415-C accident near Wamsutter, Wyoming, July 2, 1982
On July 2, 1982 at about 3:58 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N99481, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wamsutter, Wyoming. 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
- July 2, 1982 · about 3:58 pm local time
- Place
- Wamsutter, Wyoming · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N99481 · no longer on the register · serial 2104
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT BECAME SICK DURING THE FLIGHT AND ELECTED TO LAND ON A HIGHWAY. HE TOOK SPACING BEHIND A TRUCK, BUT THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN, SO HE CONTINUED THE LANDING BESIDE THE HIGHWAY. AFTER LOWERING THE NOSEWHEEL, IT HIT A DITCH AND COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE PILOT RECEIVED MEDICAL CHECKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE ATTENDING PHYSICIANS TOLD THE PILOT THAT ALL OF THE TESTS WERE EITHER NEGATIVE OR INCONCLUSIVE. THE PILOT SUSPECTED THAT HE MAY HAVE SUFFERED FROM HYPERVENTILATION.
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: 183 hours in all; 103 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 156 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,100 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RKS Rock Springs WY at 9:33 am
- Destination: 1V4 Ft. Collins-Lov CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,400 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from RWL, 47 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.