# NTSB DEN69F0158: Erco 415-C, N93542, Montrose, CO, October 13, 1968

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: October 13, 1968
- Place: Montrose, CO · MONTROSE, CO
- Location: 38.4688° N, 107.8590° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Montrose, CO, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4688&lon=-107.8590&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report February 11, 1969
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 107637
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN69F0158
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN69F0158

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4302  68/10/13   MONTROSE,COLO       ERCO 415-C          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 45, 175
        TIME - 0640                    N93542              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 95 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: TREES                                     IN FLIGHT: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT DECISIONS OR PLANNING
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FLEW INTO BLIND CANYON
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                    UNLIMITED
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      40
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          210                                                       25
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- HIT TREE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AROUND.WIND 25K GUSTING TO 35K.DENSITY ALT 10400 FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93542](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93542), registered now, S/N 865, built 1957 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415-C
- Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

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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