Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D accident near Vancouver, Washington, November 18, 1989
On November 18, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D, registered N3354H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen 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 PILOT'S INADVERTANT LEANING OF THE FUEL MIXTURE TO NEAR IDLE CUTOFF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO QUIT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen · 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.) 415D
- Registration
- N3354H · no longer on the register · serial 3979
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING INITIAL CLIMB AT 200 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. THE FAA INSPECTOR WHO EXAMINED THE WRECKAGE, REPORTED THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS ON BOTH, THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS NEAR IDLE CUTOFF AND THE CARB HEAT CONTROL WAS FULL FORWARD IN THE COLD POSITION. THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS LOCATED NEXT TO THE CARB HEAT CONTROL.
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: 95 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 131 in the last 90 days; 130 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 9, 1988; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-F-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 2,545 ft by 42 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from PDX, 4 miles away
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.