Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Scott Mills, Oregon, April 6, 1987
On April 6, 1987, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N3258H, was destroyed in an accident near Scott Mills, Oregon (Gaub'S Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. 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
- April 6, 1987
- Place
- Scott Mills, Oregon · Gaub'S Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N3258H · no longer on the register · serial 3883
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITH A GUSTING CROSSWIND FROM THE LEFT THE PILOT ALLOWED THE STUDENT PILOT TO MAKE THE TAKE OFF. THE STUDENT PILOT ROTATED PREMATURELY AND THE AIRCRAFT WEATHERCOCKED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT THEN TOOK THE CONTROLS OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT BY THEN IT WAS POINTED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY WITH A FIFTY FOOT TREE STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE PILOT PULLED UP TO AVOID THE TREE AND THE AIRCRAFT THEN MUSHED ONTO THE GROUND WHERE IT IMPACTED A BARN.
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: 123 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,525 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 11, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Scott Mills OR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.