Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Hansville, Washington, January 14, 1992
On January 14, 1992 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N86964, was destroyed in an accident near Hansville, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND IMPROPER INFLIGHT DECISION BY THE STUDENT PILOT WHO WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO CONDUCT THE FLIGHT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 14, 1992 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hansville, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N86964 · no longer on the register · serial 137
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF ON A VFR X COUNTRY FLT WITH NO WX BRIEFING AND FLEW AN AREA OF ADVERSE WX CONDITIONS. HE DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUCTOR ENDORSEMENT FOR THE FLT. THE ACFT FAILED TO ARRIVE AT THE DESTINATION AND A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. THE PILOT AND ACFT LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WERE LOCATED ON A BEACH ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE WATERS OF PUGET SOUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 164 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 11, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S13 Alderwood Manor WA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: WN41 Sequim WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: broken clouds at 100 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 pm from PWT, 30 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.