Ercoupe 415-C accident near Topeka, Kansas, March 2, 1982
On March 2, 1982 at about 7:03 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N93846, was destroyed in an accident near Topeka, Kansas (Mesa Verde airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- March 2, 1982 · about 7:03 pm local time
- Place
- Topeka, Kansas · Mesa Verde
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N93846 · no longer on the register · serial 1169
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED DURING TAKEOFF AT 1303 CST. THE PILOT RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS OVER 20 PER CENT OF HIS BODY AND EXPIRED ON 3/9/82. TWO SAILPLANES WERE DAMAGED BY IMPACT AND FIRE, AND A THIRD SAILPLANE RECEIVED FIRE DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE MADE TWO TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS IN CALM AIR WITHOUT INCIDENT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT ON HIS THIRD TAKEOFF, HE STARTED A TURN AT 75 FT AGL AND WAS CAUGHT BY A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND WHICH CAUSED HIS RIGHT WING TO DROP. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED BEFORE HE COULD REGAIN CONTROL. HE REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE OR AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO IMPACT. A WITNESS REPORTED THAT THE WIND WAS CALM PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THEN SUDDENLY BECAME GUSTY FROM THE NORTH AT 15 MPH. EIGHT MILES SOUTHEAST AT THE PHILLIP BILLARD AIRPORT, THERE WAS A WIND SHIFT AT 1344 CST FROM 040 DEGREES AT 4 KNOTS TO 010 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Topeka KS at 1:03 pm
- Destination: PVT Topeka KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 2,800 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 135°F (57°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.