Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near King City, California, May 5, 1991
On May 5, 1991 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N99893, was substantially damaged in an accident near King City, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHICH RESULTED FROM THE DRAIN VALVE FITTING ON A NEWLY INSTALLED GASCOLATOR DISLODGING DURING CRUISE FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 1991 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- King City, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N99893 · no longer on the register · serial 2516
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING DURING A PERSONAL FLIGHT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A DIRT FIELD, AND DURING ROLLOUT NOSED OVER. THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE DRAIN VALVE FITTING IN THE GASCOLATOR WAS MISSING. IT HAD PROBABLY BECOME DISLODGED DURING THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE GASCOLATOR WAS NEW AND PROVIDED RECORDS INDICATING THAT IT HAD BEEN INSTALLED 7 OPERATIONAL HOURS PRIOR TO 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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,991 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 11, 1991; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KIC King City CA at 9:45 pm
- Destination: PRB Paso Robles CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.