Erco 415C accident near Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico, March 3, 1990
On March 3, 1990 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Erco 415C, registered N99378, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico. It was a personal 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
INDUCTION ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS INCLUDE CONTINUATION OF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1990 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Erco 415C · all 415Cs on the register
- Registration
- N99378 · no longer on the register · serial 2001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME WITH A RECENTLY PURCHASED VFR EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. HER FATHER WAS IN ANOTHER PLANE, ACCOMPANYING HER. THE TWO PILOTS HAD NO INFLIGHT COMMUNICATION. THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS, SNOW SHOWERS, ICING CONDITIONS, REDUCED VISIBILITY, AND IMC OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. SHE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE RPM AT FULL THROTTLE, PITOT ICING AND LOSS OF ALTITUDE. SHE SIGHTED A HIGHWAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE HIGHWAY.
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: 28 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SKX Taos NM at 10:00 pm
- Destination: DRO Durango CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:47 pm from SAF, 50 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.