Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D accident near Jackson, Louisiana, September 20, 1987
On September 20, 1987 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D, registered N3815H, was destroyed in an accident near Jackson, Louisiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 20, 1987 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D
- Registration
- N3815H · no longer on the register · serial 4516
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
JUST PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING AT LOW ALT OVER A CREEK. THEY RPRTD THE ACFT WENT INTO A STEEP CLIMBING LEFT TURN FROM ABOUT 40 TO 75 FT AGL, THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED IN THE CREEK. NO ENG PROBLEMS OR CHANGES IN THE ENG SOUND WERE NOTED BEFORE IMPACT & NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.
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: 340 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BTR Baton Rouge LA
- Destination: BTR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from BTR, 19 miles away
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.