Ercoupe 415-C accident near Stuart, Florida, October 24, 2007
On October 24, 2007 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N94320, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stuart, Florida (Witham Field). 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 partial loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a partially blocked fuel line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2007 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Stuart, Florida · Witham Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N94320 · registry record · serial 1543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Ercoupe 415-C was in cruise flight at an altitude of 1,000 feet mean sea level, when the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot performed the emergency checklist items, which included applying carburetor heat, without any change in engine performance, and subsequently ditched in a river. The pilot and passenger exited the airplane, which subsequently sank in saltwater. The airplane sustained damage to the forward portion of the fuselage, both wings and the propeller. The pilot reported that when the airplane was recovered, he observed contamination lodged in the fuel line leading to the gascolator. He did not observe any fuel contamination during his preflight inspection. The airplane was subsequently sold. The new owner confirmed the presence of a restriction in the fuel line. He further stated that after the fuel tanks and fuel lines were flushed, the engine was started and ran without any anomalies.
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: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: September 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,820 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2007; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Continental C75-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FPR Fort Pierce FL at 12:45 pm
- Destination: SUA Stuart FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 5,826 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 12:47 pm from SUA, 2 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.