Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Galt, California, July 25, 1987
On July 25, 1987 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N2716H, was destroyed in an accident near Galt, California (Vetters airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 25, 1987 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Galt, California · Vetters · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N2716H · no longer on the register · serial 3341
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND ROLL ON A 2000 FT PRIVATE RUNWAY, AT THE POINT TO ROTATE, THE PLT APPLIED BACK PRESSURE, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RESPOND. APRX THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY THE PLT REALIZED THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT LIFTING OFF AND HE REDUCED PWR AND APPLIED BRAKES. THE ACFT DID NOT STOP IN TIME BEFORE COLLIDING WITH A BUILDING AT THE END OF THE RWY. INVESTIGATION OF THE ACFT ENGINE AND CONTROL SYSTEMS REVEALED NO MECHANICAL FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 28 in the last 90 days; 950 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 997 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 24, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from SAC, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.