Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D accident near Riverside, California, March 20, 2008
On March 20, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D, registered N3942H, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Riverside, California (Flabob 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
Water contamination of the fuel system due to the pilot's inadequate preflight and failure to adequately drain the water from the fuel system.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Riverside, California · Flabob · 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.) 415-D
- Registration
- N3942H · no longer on the register · serial 4643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot fueled the airplane, sumped the wing tanks, and departed. The engine lost power at the end of the runway on climb out. He made a forced landing on the grass infield of the airport. The nose wheel went into a gopher hole, and the airplane nosed forward. Post crash examination established that the firewall sustained damage. The pilot reported that he also found water in the gascolator, and that the water most likely got into the fuel system during recent rains. He opined that a more thorough preflight could have prevented the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect service/maintenance
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,350 as pilot in command; 100 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RIR Riverside CA at 9:30 pm
- Destination: SMO Santa Monica CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CNO, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.