Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Searcy, Arkansas, May 17, 1990
On May 17, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N2628H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Searcy, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT IMPAIRMENT FROM CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT, AND FUEL CONTAMINATION WITH WATER AND DIRT (MUD) IN THE SYSTEM.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Searcy, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N2628H · registry record · serial 3253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE FLYING LOCALLY, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. HE INITIATED A LANDING ON A ROADWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RICE FIELD, BUT DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT HIT AN EMBANKMENT AND WAS DAMAGED. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE WAS MUD AND WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND STRAINER. A TOXICOLOGY TEST SHOWED THE PILOT HAD A BLOOD/ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.18%.
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: 290 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 7, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M07 Searcy AR at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from LIT, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MKC90LA109.