Erco 415D accident near Thomaston, Maine, August 11, 1993
On August 11, 1993, a Erco 415D, registered CFJUB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Thomaston, Maine. 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE NON-INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT, AND THE SUBSEQUENT VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGIAL CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH THE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 1993
- Place
- Thomaston, Maine
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Erco 415D · all 415Ds on the register
- Registration
- CFJUB · no longer on the register · serial 2257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING FROM THE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION, WHICH DID NOT PREDICT CONDITIONS. HE ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION, BUT HE COULD NOT LOCATE THE AIRPORT BECAUSE OF 'FOG'. HE CIRCLED THE AREA AND SAW A FIELD. AS HE MANEUVERED LOWER AND LOWER OVER THIS FIELD, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN. THE WEATHER REPORTED AT HIS DESTINATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 200 FEET OVERCAST WITH NO FOG. THEE PILOT DID NOT POSSESS AN INSTRUMENT RATING. HE STATED THAT THERW WERE O MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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
- Flight time: 250 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,296 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 9B9 Wiscasset ME
- Destination: RKD Rockland ME
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 200 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.