Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Yulee, Florida, June 24, 1983
On June 24, 1983 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N2045H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Yulee, Florida (Flying A Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- June 24, 1983 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Yulee, Florida · Flying A Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N2045H · no longer on the register · serial 2668
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENTERED A 'RIGHT TURN' AFTER IT HAD CLIMBED APPX 25 FT ABOVE THE RWY. REPORTEDLY, FULL CONTROL INPUTS TO THE LEFT FAILED TO CORRECT THE RIGHT BANK. WHEN THE PLT SAW THE ACFT HEADING FOR TREES TO THE RIGHT, HE CLOSED THE THROTTLE. HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. A POST CRASH INSPECTION OF THE FLT CONTROLS REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT PROBLEM. THE ACFT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 67 LBS OVER ITS MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT LIMIT. THE OWNER STATED THAT THE PLT DID NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO FLY THE ACFT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 636 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 530 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,470 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 26, 1982; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 55J Fernandina Bch. FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from JAX, 10 miles away
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.