Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Santa Clarita, California, June 30, 1992
On June 30, 1992 at about 7:09 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N3165H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Santa Clarita, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION CAUSED BY THE INFLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE FUEL GASCOLATOR BOWL DUE TO IMPROPER COMPONENT INSTALLATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1992 · about 7:09 pm local time
- Place
- Santa Clarita, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N3165H · registry record · serial 3790
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT, WHO IS AN A&P MECHANIC, SAID HE BOUGHT THE AIRCRAFT AND COMPLETELY REBUILT IT 15 HOURS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER, THEN REDUCED TO IDLE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH HIGH SAGE BRUSH AND SMALL TREES. FAA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN ONSITE EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE GASCOLATOR BOWL WAS FOUND TO BE MISSING FROM THE FIREWALL MOUNT AND COULD NOT BE LOCATED AT THE SITE DURING A SEARCH OF THE AIRCRAFT GROUND ROLL PATH. DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THE AREA AROUND THE MOUNTING LOCATION ON THE FIREWALL REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DAMAGE.
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: 140 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 78 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,025 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1992; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L70 Agua Dulce CA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: VNY Van Nuys CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.