Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas, September 30, 1990
On September 30, 1990 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N3673H, was destroyed in an accident near Greers Ferry, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S DECISION TO PENETRATE ADVERSE WEATHER AND THE RESULTANT SPATIAL DISORIENTATION. FACTORS WERE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF INSTRUMENT TRAINING/EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 30, 1990 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greers Ferry, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N3673H · no longer on the register · serial 4298
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 325 HOUR STUDENT PILOT, WHO HAD DEPARTED FROM THE SITE OF AN ERCOUPE FLY-IN, ENCOUNTERED IMC APPROXIMATELY 170 NM EAST NORTHEAST OF THE DEPARTURE POINT. A WITNESS HEARD THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING AT LOW LEVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. THE WITNESS HEARD WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE AIRPLANE ENTERING A DIVE, FOLLOWED BY SILENCE. POST IMPACT FIRE OCCURRED. WEATHER AT THE SITE WAS 200 FEET OVERCAST WITH VISIBILITY OF 2/10 MILE IN FOG AND DRIZZLE.
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: 325 hours in all; 305 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no 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-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Page AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N3673H the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.