# Accident 19970315003109A: Univar 415D, Los Angeles, CA, March 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 1997, 14:48 local time
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Airport: Whiteman Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2495° N, 118.4103° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2495&lon=-118.4103&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3030H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3030H-1999-01-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D (registry code 0420316, https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-d) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415D
- Reported engine: AMTR O200
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Pilot flight hours: 428 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970315003109A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

TWO WIRES WITHOUT CIRCUIT PROTECTION SHORTED AT FIREWALL. LEAKING FUEL TANK ABOUVE WIRES PROVIDED FUEL FOR FIRE. (.19) ON MARCH 15, 1997, AT 1448 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN ERCOUPE 415D, N3030H, OPERATED BY THE PILOT, WAS DESTROYED DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING APPROACH AT PACOIMA, CALIFORNIA. THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES, AND THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT 1444 FROM PACOIMA, AND WAS DESTINED FOR OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.THE AI RCRAFT DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 12. ACCORDING TO THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER, THE PILOT REQUESTED A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABEAM OF THE TOWER NORTH, THE PILOT STATED "WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY, WE NEED TO LAND." THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY. THE TOWER PERSONNEL NOTICED BLACK SMOKE TRAILING FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO TURN BASE LEG FOR RUNWAY 12, IT PITCHED OVER AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL ARE NORTHWEST OF THE RUNWAY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97FA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97FA123), Mar 15, 1997: Ercoupe 415-D (N3030H), Pacoima, CA, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: improper maintenance/installation of electrical wiring, the lack of circuit protection, and subsequent in-flight electrical fire.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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