Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, June 8, 1985
On June 8, 1985 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N99018, was destroyed in an accident near Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed 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
- June 8, 1985 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N99018 · no longer on the register · serial 1641
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PLT WAS FLYING AT A VERY LOW ALT & WAS MAKING 'S' TURNS WHILE PROCEEDING SOUTHBOUND ALONG A BEACH. DURING THE LAST LEFT TURN TOWARD THE EAST, THE ACFT TURNED FURTHER LEFT TOWARD THE NORTH. WHILE TURNING, THE LEFT WING STRUCK WATER & THE ACFT CRASHED, THEN IT SANK IN LESS THAN ONE MINUTE. THE PLT RECEIVED A HEAD INJURY & DROWNED. TOXICOLOGY TESTS SHOWED THE ALCOHOL LEVEL OF HIS BLOOD WAS 0.128%, URINE WAS 0.193% & GASTRIC FLUID WAS 0.117%. HIS LAST MED CERT WAS DATED 2/22/83. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT HEAVY RAIN & STRONG GUSTY WINDS BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED.
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: 8,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DED Deland FL at 7:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,300 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from DAB, 4 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.