# NTSB CEN19LA167: Ercoupe 415, N87294, Hawkins, TX, June 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 13, 2019, 08:56 local (13:56 UTC) - Place: Hawkins, TX - Coordinates: 32.697776, -95.213607 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6978&lon=-95.2136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 99620 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99620/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99620 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA167 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Engineering & Research 415-C, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and passenger departed on a cross-country flight to their home airport. The passenger reported that, after turning onto final approach for landing, the engine started running rough and the propeller "slowed down." The pilot attempted to restore engine power to no avail. The airplane impacted a 40-ft-tall tree about 550 ft from the runway threshold and about 70 ft north of the extended runway centerline. The pilot did not recall any of the events of the accident flight except the impact with the tree. Examination of the engine revealed no anomalies, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 13, 2019, at 0856 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N87294, struck a tree and impacted terrain one mile east of Holly Lake Ranch Airport (16TE), Hawkins, Texas. The private pilot and his passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions were reported at the airport about the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated in Henderson (RFI), Texas, about 0830. The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he and his granddaughter had flown to RFI where he purchased 25 gallons of fuel, filling the airplane to capacity. They were returning to their home base. The pilot said he could not recall anything about the accident except for hitting the tree. His passenger told the inspector that they had just made the turn onto final approach to runway 9 when the engine started running rough and the propeller "slowed down." She said the pilot attempted to restore engine power, but to no avail. They both saw the tree. The pilot tried to pull up, but it was not soon enough, and the airplane struck the tree. The inspector said the tree was about 40 ft tall, about 550 ft from the runway threshold, and was situated about 70 ft north of the extended runway centerline. The inspector noted that the right wing was compressed, the empennage was buckled, and the forward portion of the fuselage was bent. There were no known witnesses to the accident. The engine was later examined by FAA inspectors. No anomalies were found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87294](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87294-2019-10-17), registration cancelled 2019-10-17, S/N 467 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415 (C) - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 467 - Year built: 1956 - Engines: Continental C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KRFI, Henderson, TX - Destination: 16TE, Hawkins, TX - Airport: 16TE, Holly Lake Ranch, runway 09, 2,700 × 30 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 88; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 900 total, 900 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KJXI, 13 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20190613006879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190613006879A), Jun 13, 2019: Engineering & Research 415-C, Hawkins, TX, Substantial damage. On June 13, 2019 at approximately 08:56 central daylight time, N87294, a Ercoupe 415-C serial number 467, impacted the ground in a grassy field approximately… ## Other investigations on N87294 (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 MIA66F0308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA66F0308), Oct 30, 1965: Ercoupe 415C (N87294), Spruce Pine, NC, substantial damage ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 15, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99620. 346 KB in all. - Aerial View and Map (item 1, .PDF, 1 photo, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474111&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20View%20and%20Map-Master.PDF - Weather Observation (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474112&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Observation-Master.PDF - Emails from FAA (item 3, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Emails%20from%20FAA-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Pre-Accident Photo of N87295 (item 5, .PDF, 1 photo, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pre-Accident%20Photo%20of%20N87295-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.