# NTSB CHI69F0368: Erco 415-C, N86978, Lawton, MI, November 24, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: November 24, 1968
- Place: Lawton, MI · LAWTON, MI
- Location: 42.1673° N, 85.8465° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lawton, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1673&lon=-85.8465&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 22, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI69F0368
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0368

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4050  68/11/24   LAWTON,MICH         ERCO 415-C          CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 192
        TIME - 1600                    N86978              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 146 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MARKS FIELD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           MISCELLANEOUS                                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           AIRFRAME - LANDING GEAR: NOSEWHEEL ASSEMBLIES
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MISSING
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        REMARKS- NOSE GR FORK ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM NOSE GR OLEO ASSEMBLY IN FLT DUE TO LOSS OF RETAINING BOLT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N86978](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86978), registered now, S/N 151, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415-C
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Marks Field

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.

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