Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Saluda, Virginia, May 14, 2005
On May 14, 2005 at about 1:00 am local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N2406H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Saluda, Virginia (Hummel 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
A loss of engine power due to an unsecured mixture control cable, which was not properly secured by maintenance personnel during a recent annual inspection. Also causal was the airplane owner's continued operation of the airplane with known deficiencies.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2005 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Saluda, Virginia · Hummel · 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
- N2406H · no longer on the register · serial 3031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was departing from a 2,270-foot-long runway, and was about 100 feet above the ground, when it experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot attempted a forced landing to a field; however, the airplane struck a fence and a tractor, prior to coming to rest. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the carburetor mixture control cable was not properly secured. The carburetor mixture control arm was observed in the lean position, while the cockpit mixture control was in the full rich position. The airplane had been operated for about 35 hours since its most recent annual inspection, which was performed about one month prior to the accident. The airplane owner reported that the airplane had experienced several recent power losses since the annual inspection, and a work order dated after the accident listed discrepancies with the airplane, which included "mixture cable secured with zip ties and loose."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 308 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 73 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 259 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,375 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: W75 Saluda VA at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 1, 2,270 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 50,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from FYJ, 16 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.