Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Ennis, Montana, July 2, 1989
On July 2, 1989 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N3246H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ennis, Montana (Big Sky airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1989 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ennis, Montana · Big Sky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N3246H · registry record · serial 3871
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & A PASSENGER WERE FLYING IN A SPOT LANDING CONTEST. THE PLT SAID THE ACFT STALLED ON FINAL APCH & FELL APRX 50 FT IN A LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. DURING TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED, THEN THE PLANE CARTWHEELED & CAME TO REST WITH DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, PROPELLER, FUSELAGE & RUDDER. THE PLT SAID HE SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THE AIRSPEED.
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: 263 hours in all; 247 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 263 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 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: 5U3 at 4:30 pm
- Destination: 5U3
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,280 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N3246H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.