Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Helena, Montana, April 17, 1993
On April 17, 1993 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N94142, was destroyed in an accident near Helena, Montana (Wilhelms airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE LOOKOUT BY THE PIC AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM ELECTRICAL WIRES. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRICAL WIRES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE AIRSTRIP.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 1993 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Helena, Montana · Wilhelms
- 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
- N94142 · registry record · serial 1465
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW A VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR LANDING AT A FAMILIAR GRAVEL AIRSTRIP. THE ACFT STRUCK ELECTRICAL WIRES NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP DURING THE FINAL APPROACH, AND IMPACTED THE GROUND IN AN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
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: 84 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 46 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,794 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 14, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,280 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; not recorded at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 pm from HLN, 7 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA93LA098.