CHI82DA275

NTSB accident investigation · Ercoupe 415C · Port Sheldon Tw, MI · July 26, 1982

Accident · Minor injuriesFinal report

Date: July 26, 1982, 10:43 local (14:43 UTC)
Place: Port Sheldon Tw, MI
Injuries: 2 minor
Damage: Destroyed
Phase of flight: Enroute
Aircraft: N3247HErcoupe 415C
Weather: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Status: Completed · report July 26, 1983
Report: Approved by Office Director
FAA report: 19820726031479A
Case key: 72294

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight encounter with weatherCruise - normal

In-flight planning/decision - improperPilot in commandCause

Vfr flight into imc - inadvertentPilot in commandCause

Overconfidence in personal abilityPilot in commandFactor

Weather condition - low ceilingFactor

Weather condition - fogFactor

Weather condition - haze/smokeFactor

In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - turn to reverse direction

Altitude - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Terrain condition - water,glassy

Analysis

During a VFR flight along lake Michigan shoreline the pilot encountered a decrease in ceiling height. The pilot chose to make a 180 degrees maneuver and return to the airport but during the turn encountered a fog bank. The pilot decended to avoid the fog bank and inadvertently crashed into the lake.

Aircraft

Registration: N3247H
Reported as: Ercoupe 415C
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 3872
Airframe hours: 1,200
Engine: Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Personal · Part 91
Operator: William J. Gras
Registered owner: William J. Gras
Departed: HLM · Port Sheldon Tw, MI
Destination: Interlochen, MI
Airport: HLM · Park Township

N3247HRegistration cancelled Oct 8, 1982 · Ercoupe 415-CS/N 3872 · Built 1946 Airframe modelErcoupe 415-C

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role: Pilot
Age: 45
Certificate: Private
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours: 276 total · 268 in this make and model · 229 as pilot in command · 64 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Instrument (IMC) · Day
Wind: 290° at 8 knots
Visibility: 2 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken
Temperature: 171 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: MKG, 10 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.

Accident 19820726031479AUnivar 415C · Port Sheldon Tw, MIProceeded VFR into fog bank. Became disoriented during a 180 degree turn and crashed into lake near shore.Jul 26, 1982 · N3247H · Destroyed