Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415CD accident near Hereford, Texas, April 9, 1990
On April 9, 1990 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415CD, registered N3504H, was destroyed in an accident near Hereford, Texas (Hereford 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
INADVERTENT STALL. FACTORS WERE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT EXCEEDED BY THE PILOT, THE PILOT'S IMPAIRMENT DUE TO DRUGS, AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 1990 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hereford, Texas · Hereford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415CD
- Registration
- N3504H · no longer on the register · serial 4129
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE LOW AND MOVING VERY SLOW WHEN THE NOSE PITCHED STRAIGHT DOWN AND CONTINUED IN THAT ATTITUDE TO IMPACT IN A NEAR VERITCAL ATTITUDE. AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE OCCURRED AFTER IMPACT. THE AIRPLANE WAS 22 POUNDS OVER MAX GROSS WEIGHT AND THE CENTER OF GRAVITY WAS AT THE MOST AFT LIMIT. THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT TESTED POSITIVE FOR DIAZEPAM, NORDIAZEPAM, FENFLURAMINE, AND DIPHENHYDRAMINE. ACCORDING TO THE REGIONAL FLIGHT SURGEON'S OFFICE THESE DRUGS 'MAY HAVE INFLUENCED THE CEREBRATION REFLEX AND THE FUNCTION OF OPERATION MAY HAVE BEEN SLOWED, ALTERING JUDGMENT, AND COULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.' IMPACT OCCURRED ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AND APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 78 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 25 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-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: HRX at 6:42 pm
- Destination: TDW Amarillo TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 5,378 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 21 knots, gusting 27
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
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.