Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near N. Stillwell, Kansas, February 25, 1984
On February 25, 1984 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N3112H, was substantially damaged in an accident near N. Stillwell, Kansas (Hillside 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
- February 25, 1984 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- N. Stillwell, Kansas · Hillside · 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.) 415C
- Registration
- N3112H · registry record · serial 3737
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER AN ENG POWER LOSS DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB, THE PLT LANDED THE ACFT ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THE HARD LANDING RESULTEDIN A NOSE GEAR COLLAPSE. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ACFT HAD ONLY FLOWN ONCE IN 7 MONTHS. THE OLD AUTOMOTIVE FUEL HAD DETERIORATED AND CONTAINED SEDIMENTS. 5 GALLONS OF AVIATION FUEL HAD BEEN ADDED TO THE 8 GALLONS OF AUTOMOTIVE FUEL PRIOR TO THE FLT.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,402 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 13,781 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,152 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 30, 1983; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from GVW, 3 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.