Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma, June 24, 2001
On June 24, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD, registered N3962H, was destroyed in an accident near Mcalester, Oklahoma (Mcalester Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadvertent stall by the pilot-in-command.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mcalester, Oklahoma · Mcalester Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registration
- N3962H · no longer on the register · serial 4663
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane's fuel tanks were topped off and the flight departed. The following day the airplane was found 1/4 mile from the departure end of the runway by a helicopter that departed on an unrelated business flight. The helicopter crew maneuvered the helicopter near the airplane and observed the accident site among rough and uneven terrain. There were no witnesses to the accident and no distress calls were received. The damage to the airplane and signatures at the accident site, including ground scars, were consistent with a stall. Examination of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude normal operation of the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed several anomalies, including ferrous debris in the cylinders and main oil screen; however, there was no evidence of catastrophic engine failure.
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: 275 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,864.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 20, 2000; 34.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MLC Mcalester OK at 8:00 pm
- Destination: NONE Ozawkie KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,602 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MLC
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.