Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Melrose, Florida, July 24, 1983
On July 24, 1983, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N99474, was substantially damaged in an accident near Melrose, Florida (Sanders Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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 24, 1983
- Place
- Melrose, Florida · Sanders Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N99474 · no longer on the register · serial 2097
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT TOOK OFF ON RWY 11 (ELEV 150 FT MSL) WITH A DENSITY ALT OF 1500 FT. HE REPORTED THE WIND WAS CALM, BUT APRX 14 MI WEST AT GAINSVILLE, FL, THE 2052 EDT WIND WAS FROM 250 DEG AT 9 KTS. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT CLIMBED APRX 75 FT, THEN SETTLED INTO TREES AT THE END OF THE RWY. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE GRASS ON THE RWY WAS DAMP, THE TIRES WERE 'SOFT' & THE CANOPY WAS OPEN. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT THE ACFT USED MORE RWY THAN USUAL. NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED. THE INVESTIGATOR ESTIMATED THAT THE TAKEOFF GROSS WT WAS 1318 LBS. THE MAX ALLOWABLE GROSS WT WAS 1260 LBS.
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: 105 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,127 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 13, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 42J Keystone Hgts. FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 300 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.