Ercoupe 415-D accident near Santa Clarita, California, July 13, 2004
On July 13, 2004, a Ercoupe 415-D, registered N3837H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Clarita, California. 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 pilot's inadequate planning/decision by his inadequate evaluation of the weather resulting in an attempt to conduct flight beyond the aircraft's climb performance capability.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2004
- Place
- Santa Clarita, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-D · all 415-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N3837H · no longer on the register · serial 4538
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot made a precautionary landing in a field and the airplane collided with a rock. When he departed, the ambient temperature was about 80 degrees F. As he progressed northbound while climbing toward mountainous terrain, the temperatures exceeded 100 degrees F. When the airplane was about 2,500 feet msl, it would not climb and the engine temperature gauge was indicating 240 degrees F. The pilot attempted to return to a nearby airport; however, he could not attain the altitude needed to transition through a mountain pass to the airport. He made a precautionary landing in a field. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector performed a post accident test-run on the engine, and it operated normally. The density altitude at the accident site was calculated to be in excess of 5,300 feet.
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: glider
- Flight time: 900 hours in all
- Last flight review: August 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2003
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMO Santa Monica CA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: MOD Modesto CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from PMD, 30 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.