# NTSB CHI77FA016: Erco 415-C, N99258, Palo, MI, December 19, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 19, 1976
- Place: Palo, MI · PALO, MI
- Location: 43.1106° N, 84.9861° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Palo, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1106&lon=-84.9861&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 14, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156506
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI77FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA016

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4127  76/12/19    PALO,MI            ERCO 415-C          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 205
        TIME - UNK/NR                  N99258              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 113 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          HASTINGS,MI                 RETURN                       GREENVILLE,MI
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        MISSING AIRCRAFT - LATER RECOVERED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  600
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          2 MILES OR LESS                                          DRIZZLE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          FOG                                                      IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- NO WX BRIEF RECVD
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99258](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99258-1977-02-11), registration cancelled 1977-02-11, S/N 1881 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415-C
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19761219038729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761219038729A), Dec 19, 1976: Univar 415C, Palo, MI, Destroyed. No wx brief recvd

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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