Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Anaconda, Montana, August 17, 1991
On August 17, 1991 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N2069H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anaconda, Montana (Anaconda airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AN INADVERTENT STALL DURING INITIAL CLIMB. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE AND A PREMATURE LIFTOFF BY THE PILOT WERE FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1991 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anaconda, Montana · Anaconda · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N2069H · no longer on the register · serial 2692
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM THE AIRPORT WITH A DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 7500-8000 FEET UNDER NO WIND CONDITIONS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS FULLY FUELED AND NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND THE PILOT DID NOT ADJUST THE FUEL/PASSENGER LOAD TO COMPENSATE. DURING THE TAKEOFF THE AIRSPEED DECAYED BELOW STALL SPEED AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND DESCENDED BACK TO THE RUNWAY. INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE WAS AVAILABLE DURING THE STALL TO ENABLE THE PILOT TO EXECUTE A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY.
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: 317 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 317 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 4,500 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.