Ercoupe 415 C accident near Susanville, California, July 27, 2014
On July 27, 2014 at about 5:45 pm local time, a 1946 Ercoupe 415 C, registered N2013H, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Susanville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to follow the checklist while starting the engine and to lock the engine primer plunger, which resulted in the partial loss of engine power during cruise flight in high density altitude conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2014 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Susanville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415 C, built 1946 · all 415 Cs on the register
- Registration
- N2013H · no longer on the register · serial 2636
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot reported that, before the first flight leg of the day, he used the engine primer during a cold engine start. He did not use the primer before he departed for the accident flight leg. He stated that, during cruise flight, he began to slowly climb the airplane to cross a ridgeline, and, as he pushed the throttle up, the engine did not respond. He pumped the throttle numerous times, and the engine finally responded; however, the airplane had lost altitude and airspeed, and he was forced to land the airplane in a wooded area. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the spark plugs' electrode areas were dark and sooty, indicative of a rich-mixture condition. The engine primer plunger was found in the unlocked-and-extended position, and it was undamaged and would lock when the lugs were engaged. The primer position and the condition of the spark plugs indicated that the engine power loss was likely due to an overly rich mixture, which resulted from excess fuel being pulled through the primer into the engine's intake system when power was applied. The Starting checklist procedures indicated that, after using the primer, the primer plunger should be locked. An unsecured primer plunger can cause the engine to run richer than normal and result in a rough-running engine, loss of power, and blackened spark plugs. It is likely that, when the pilot used the primer while starting the engine before the first flight leg, he did not ensure that it was locked before initiating the accident flight in accordance with the Starting checklist and that this led to the subsequent in-flight loss of engine power. The calculated density altitude at cruise altitude at the time of the flight was about 9,240 ft, which would have further degraded the engine's performance.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,475 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 7,995 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 14, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,347 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 1,240 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor A&C75 SERIES (piston); 2,347 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O05 Chester CA at 4:40 pm
- Destination: O05 Chester CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from RTS, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.