Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C and Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C mid-air collision near Santa Rosa, New Mexico, April 19, 1991
On April 19, 1991 at about 2:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (N87259) and Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (N3210H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Santa Rosa, New Mexico. 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CLEARANCE AND PHYSICAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT.
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 1991 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Rosa, New Mexico · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N87259 · no longer on the register · serial 432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N3210H · registry record · serial 432
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO LIKE-MODEL AIRPLANES FLEW IN FORMATION. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. THE LEAD AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED; HOWEVER, A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT'S (N87259) FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH ENTERED A LEFT SPIRAL. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, HE PARTIALLY FLARED THE AIRCRAFT BY PULLING AFT ON THE CONTROL YOKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO LIKE-MODEL AIRPLANES FLEW IN FORMATION. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE LEAD AIRCRAFT (N3210H). THE LEAD AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED; HOWEVER, A SUCCESSFUL LANDING WAS MADE. THE SECOND AIRCRAFT'S FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE DAMAGED IN THE COLLISION AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH ENTERED A LEFT SPIRAL. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, HE PARTIALLY FLARED THE AIRCRAFT BY PULLING AFT ON THE CONTROL YOKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE.
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 for the Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 689 hours in all; 686 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 667 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: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCC Tucumcari NM at 1:07 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,800 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,195 hours in all; 2,006 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- 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: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TCC Tucumcari NM at 1:07 pm
- Destination: SEZ Sedona AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN91LA062.