Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD accident near Compton, California, October 23, 1983
On October 23, 1983 at about 6:20 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD, registered N3630H, was destroyed in an accident near Compton, California (Compton 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
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 1983 · about 6:20 pm local time
- Place
- Compton, California · Compton · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registration
- N3630H · no longer on the register · serial 4255
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER LOSS ON TAKEOFF & WAS DEMOLISHED IN THE IMPACT SEQUENCE & POST CRASH FIRE. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL INTERVIEWEES THE PILOT HAD PERFORMED EXTENSIVE NON-STC'D MODIFICATIONS TO THE ACFT INCLUDING THE FUEL SYSTEM.AN 'AUTOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE COMPUTER' REQUIRING A FUEL FLOW TRANSDUCER WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, WOULD NOT WORK ON A GRAVITY FED SYSTEM. A FUEL PUMP FOUND IN THE WRECKAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FUEL TRANSFER DUMP DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE OUTPUT FLOW TO ZERO AT ITS MAXIMUM OUTPUT LINE PRESSURE OF 4.5 PSI. THE TRANSDUCER WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE FUEL OUTPUT FLOW TO A 'TRICKLE'.
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: 1,475 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 1,425 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,922 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 10, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-16F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Compton CA at 6:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 3,670 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:49 pm from LGB, 6 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.