Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D accident near Sterling, Massachusetts, October 11, 1985
On October 11, 1985 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D, registered N3191H, was destroyed in an accident near Sterling, Massachusetts (Sterling airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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
- October 11, 1985 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sterling, Massachusetts · Sterling
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D
- Registration
- N3191H · registry record · serial 3816
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED TREES WHILE MAKING AN APCH TO RWY 34 AT STERLING, MASSACHUSETTS. THE ACFT CRASHED ABOUT 100 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT A SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THEN A RAPID RATE OF DESCENT FOLLOWED. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR STRUCK TREES VEERING THE ACFT LEFT 20 DEGS. THE ACFT PITCHED THROUGH THE TREES, STRIKING THE GROUND LEFT WING AND NOSE FIRST.
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: 445 hours in all; 181 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 324 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,511 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1985; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B3 Sterling MA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,100 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 9 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:15 pm
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.