Ercoupe 415-C accident near Ranger, Texas, April 4, 2003
On April 4, 2003 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N93815, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ranger, Texas (Ranger Municipal airport). 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
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 2003 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ranger, Texas · Ranger Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N93815 · no longer on the register · serial 1138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff/initial climb there was a loss of engine power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a telephone service box and a fence. The airplane was registered to the student pilot's father. On May 26, 1992, a third class medical certificate was issued to the student pilot who had logged 8.6 hours of flight. The student pilot departed the accident scene, and has not responded to FAA inquiries. To date, a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) had not been received by the Safety Board. The FAA inspector reported that the last annual inspection was performed on June 17, 1992.
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: 9 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 17, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: F23 Ranger TX at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,624 ft by 14 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.78 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from MWL, 25 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.