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Accidents · NTSB DEN87LA078 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Englewood, Colorado, April 1, 1987

On April 1, 1987 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N114PA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Englewood, Colorado (Centennial airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
April 1, 1987 · about 4:55 pm local time · cases in 1987
Place
Englewood, Colorado · Centennial · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
Registration
N114PA · registry record · serial 3451
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE STUDENT PLT SAID THE ACFT BALLOONED DURING THE FLARE AND HE APPLIED FORWARD STICK. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN NOSE WHEEL FIRST AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT THEN SETTLED HARD ON MAIN GEAR RESULTING IN ADDITIONAL DAMAGE.

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: student
  • Flight time: 38 hours in all; 38 in this make and model; 24 in the last 90 days
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,653 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1986
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 35L, 7,000 ft by 45 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 50 statute miles
  • Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
  • Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 4:55 pm from APA

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
Place
Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN87LA078.json.

The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.

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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.