Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C accident near Del Mar, New York, August 14, 1985
On August 14, 1985 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C, registered N3431H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Del Mar, New York (Unknown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- August 14, 1985 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Del Mar, New York · Unknown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C ERCOUPE 41
- Registration
- N3431H · registry record · serial 4056
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS REPOSITION THE ACFT AT THE REQUEST OF THE NEW OWNER WHO WAS NOT A RATED PLT. WHILE CLIMBING THRU 2000 FT AGL THE PLT REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE GROWL AND FELT A LOSS OF POWER. DURING A PRECAUTIONARY DESCENT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO SIEZED PISTONS AND HEAT DAMAGE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. THE TWO REMAINING CYLINDERS THAT WERE NOT DAMAGED APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY REPLACED WITHOUT THE APPROPRIATE LOGBOOK NOTATIONS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN PURCHASED TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT AND THE SELLER REFUSED TO FLY THE ACFT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 616 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 582 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SCH Schenectady NY at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 4B0 South Bethlehem NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 5:00 pm
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.