Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C accident near Harrison, Arkansas, August 2, 1997
On August 2, 1997 at about 1:18 am local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C, registered N2899H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harrison, Arkansas (Boone County 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 total loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A factor was 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
- August 2, 1997 · about 1:18 am local time
- Place
- Harrison, Arkansas · Boone County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C ERCOUPE 41
- Registration
- N2899H · no longer on the register · serial 3524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing his fourth touch-and-go at the airport when the engine lost power just after takeoff, approximately 150 feet AGL, and a forced landing was executed on airport property. The pilot was unable to land straight ahead due to REILs located at the end of the runway. The pilot elected to land the airplane on a taxiway that extends to the east of the departure end of the runway. The pilot banked the airplane to the left, while descending, to align the airplane with the taxiway. The pilot reported that the propeller continued to windmill during the forced landing. The airplane contacted the taxiway and traveled 40 feet before exiting onto the grass. The airplane traveled an additional 150 feet at which point the nose gear 'dug in[to the ground].' Subsequently, the airplane came to rest inverted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
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: 888 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 840 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 13, 1997; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C75-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HRO at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,161 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.
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.