# NTSB CHI82DA037: Ercoupe 415-C, N93607, Brownsburg, IN, February 6, 1982

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1982, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC)
- Place: Brownsburg, IN
- Coordinates: 39.840377, -86.390686 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8404&lon=-86.3907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 6, 1983
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 70053
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI82DA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70053/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI82DA037

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, landing - flare/touchdown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - snowbank (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING HIS VISUAL APPROACH FOR LANDING, HE USED FULL CARBURETOR HEAT AND CLEARED HIS ENGINE DURING THE BASE TURN. WHILE ENTERING HIS FINAL APPROACH, HE WAS TOO HIGH AND REDUCED HIS POWER BELOW 1000 RPM FOR ABOUT 10 TO 20 SECONDS. HE REPORTED THAT THE SINK RATE BECAME TOO GREAT, BUT WHEN HE WENT TO ADD POWER, THE POWER WOULD NOT INCREASE. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT AND COLLIDED WITH A SNOWBANK. THE TEMPERATURE WAS EIGHT DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND COMPONENTS REVEALED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N93607 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415-C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 960
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Richard&Thomas Byfield
- Registered owner: Richard&Thomas Byfield
- Departed: I52, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: ALCOA, TN
- Airport: I01, Brownsburg, runway 22, 2,450 × 0 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 4,675 total, 19 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IND, 25 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 19820206002789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820206002789A), Feb 6, 1982: Univar 415C, Brownsburg, IN, Substantial damage. Too high on final idled engine. Failed to use carburetor heat. Engine quit, struck snowbank on end of runway.

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.