# Accident 20020831024519A: Univar 415C, Fresno, CA, August 31, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 2002, 10:20 local time
- Place: Fresno, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.8844° N, 119.8153° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8844&lon=-119.8153&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87204, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87204-2003-08-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Engineering & Research 415-C (registry code 0420302, https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX02LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA270) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020831024519A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 08-31-02 AT APPROXIMATELY 1020 HOURS PDT, MR. RICHARD EARL BAIN, A PRIVATE PILOT, WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF AIRCRAFT N87204, AN ERCOUPE 415-C, WITH ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD, MR. FLOYD GLENN STEWART, A STUDENT PILOT AND THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT. ABOUT FIVE MILES WEST OF THE FRESNO CHANDLER DOWNTOWN AIRPORT ON A FORTY-FIVE DEGREE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT TRAFFIC PATTERN DOWN WIND, THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE QUIT. MR. BAIN MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRCRAFT LEFT WING STRUCK A MAIL BOX ON A POST. THE AIRCRAFT THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE, GROUND LOOPED INTO SOFT DIRT AND CAME TO REST ON THE EDGE OF A GRAPE VINEYARD, HAVING STRUCK A GRAPE VINE AND CEMENT STAND POLES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. (.19) ON AUGUST 31, 2002, ABOUT 1025 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN ERCOUPE 415-C, N87204, MADE AN OFF FIELD LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ABOUT 5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA. THE OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91. THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED, AND ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBS                                      TANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PERSONAL LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED CHANDLER AIRPORT (CHD) IN FRESNO ABOUT 1015. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PILOT STATED THAT AN ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED ON THE AIRPLANE AND HE WAS TAKING THE OWNER UP TO CHECK THE AIRPLANE OUT. THEY ADDED ABOUT 10 GALLONS OF GASOLINE TO THE AIRPLANE AND DEPARTED. THEY WERE RETURNING TO CHD AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. THEY DECIDED TO LAND ON A ROAD. THE PILOT SAID THE TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE ROAD'S CENTERLINE. HOWEVER, THE LEFT WING HIT A POLE AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO WEAVE. THE AIRPLANE HIT ANOTHER POLE AND DEPARTED THE ROAD INTO SOFT DIRT. THE MAIN LANDING GEAR DUG INTO THE SOFT DIRT AND THE PROP NOSED INTO THE GROUND. BOTH WINGS AND THE FUSELAGE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 LAX02LA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA270), Aug 31, 2002: Ercoupe 415-C (N87204), Fresno, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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