CHI83FA440

NTSB accident investigation · Ercoupe 415-C · Raymond, IL · September 25, 1983

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
September 25, 1983, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Raymond, IL
Injuries
2 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N3184Ercoupe 415-C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
12028

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

On this page

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
Weather condition - cloudsFactor
Weather condition - low ceilingFactor
Weather condition - rainFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Vfr flight into imc - continuedPilot in commandCause
Loss of control - in flightCruise
Flight/nav instruments - inadequate
Operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performedCause
Aircraft handling - not possiblePilot in command
Spatial disorientationPilot in command
Lack of total instrument timePilot in commandFactor
Airframe/component/system failure/malfunctionManeuvering
Object - overload
Design stress limits of aircraft - exceededPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

During a wx briefing at 1433 CDT, the plt was advised to expect 500 ft ceilings, 2 mi visibilities, rain showers & thunderstorms. He then took off from bismark, MO with no flt plan. Reportedly, wx was encountered during the flt which deteriorated as he proceeded along the route. Subsequently, the acft crashed inverted, in a corn field near Raymond, IL. A witness said that he saw the acft 'going or spinning straight down; however, he did not see the actual crash. An investigation revealed the the outer 4-FT section of the left wing & the left aileron had separated in flt. There was evidence that they had separated upward & aft, no evidence of fatigue or corrosion was found in the fracture area. The right wing tip had also failed, but it had not separated from the acft. An NTSB wx summary showed that the cloud bases were at appx 700 ft AGL & the cloud tops were at about 14,000 ft MSL. About 50 mi northeast at decatur, IL, there was a 2000 ft overcast. The acft was not equipped with certified turn & bank or attitude indicator.

Aircraft

Registration
N3184
Reported as
Ercoupe 415-C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3809
Airframe hours
1,343
Engine
Continental C-85-12F, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Budd L. Wilkinson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · May 5, 1983 · 331 hours before
Departed
Bismark, MO
Destination
Lincoln, IL

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
1,700 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
23° at 9 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Temperature
61 °F, dew point 61 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
DEC