Ercoupe 415C accident near Englewood, Colorado, September 3, 1982
On September 3, 1982 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415C, registered N87141, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Arapahoe County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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
- September 3, 1982 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Englewood, Colorado · Arapahoe County
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415C · all 415Cs on the register
- Registration
- N87141 · no longer on the register · serial 314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS DETECTED BY THE AIRCREW. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF POWER. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT REDUCED POWER, BUT THE SINK RATE WAS TOO GREAT TO REACH THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING A LANDING ON UNEVEN TERRAIN. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT A THREADED COUPLING BETWEEN THE GASCOLATOR AND CARBURETOR FAILED FROM FATIGUE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,343 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 241 in the last 90 days; 5,731 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,385 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 20 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: APA Englewood CO at 4:15 pm
- Destination: APA Englewood CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.