Ercoupe ERCO-415-E accident near Conway, Arkansas, May 31, 2002
On May 31, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe ERCO-415-E, registered N94769, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conway, Arkansas (Dennis Cantrell Field). It was a personal flight 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors were the pilots necessity to avoid a power line during the emergency descent and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Conway, Arkansas · Dennis Cantrell Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe ERCO-415-E
- Registration
- N94769 · no longer on the register · serial 234
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power after takeoff at an altitude of 150-200 feet. The pilot stated that the engine RPM's went from full, down to 800 RPM's. After pulling up over power lines at the end of the runway, he maneuvered the airplane into a hay field. Subsequently, the hard landing resulted in structural damage to the fuselage.
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: 151 hours in all; 89 in this make and model; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 16, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 2002; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M03 Conway AR at 6:59 pm
- Destination: M03 Conway AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,278 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
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.
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.