Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCO-415C accident near New Lisbon, NY
On May 16, 1998, an Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCO-415C (airplane) was involved in an accident near New Lisbon, NY. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 16, 1998
- Place
- New Lisbon, NY
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCO-415C · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.600°N, 75.199°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10170
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 16, 1998, at 1350 eastern daylight time, an Engineering and Research ERCO-415C (Ercoupe), N3230H, was destroyed during a forced landing to a field near New Lisbon, New York. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, that departed Cooperstown-Westville Airport, Cooperstown, New York, about 1315. According to the passenger's husband, they were attending an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) pancake breakfast at the airport when the passenger was approached by the pilot. The pilot offered a ride to the passenger, and after some deliberation with her husband she accepted. She also agreed to pay 5.00 dollars to help with the operating costs associated with the airplane. Prior to the accident flight, another pilot flew the airplane. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 he stated, there were no mechanical problems, and he personally refueled the airplane prior to the accident flight. According to the passenger's husband, the pilot that flew the airplane prior to the accident questioned the accident pilot when he saw him carrying a quart of oil to the airplane. The pilot said "it can't need oil I checked it this morning and it was fine." They discussed the situation with the mechanic that preformed the last annual inspection and decided the low oil level was caused by the engine being warm. The accident pilot then ran the engine up for a couple of minutes, shut it down, and the three men decided everything
Probable cause
Detonation within the No. 2 cylinder resulting in melting and breaching of the piston, and the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Contributing factors were the uphill terrain encountered during the landing and the visual perception (illusion) that the terrain was not sloped.
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Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
