# NTSB DEN90LA069: Erco 415C, N99378, Tierra Amarilla, NM, March 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 3, 1990, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Tierra Amarilla, NM
- Coordinates: 36.699134, -106.540512 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6991&lon=-106.5405&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 29, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17899
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17899/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90LA069

## Probable cause

INDUCTION ICING INDUCED POWER LOSS. FACTORS INCLUDE CONTINUATION OF FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND UNSUITABLE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions
  - weather condition - snow
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - induction air ducting - ice (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS RETURNING HOME WITH A RECENTLY PURCHASED VFR EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. HER FATHER WAS IN ANOTHER PLANE, ACCOMPANYING HER. THE TWO PILOTS HAD NO INFLIGHT COMMUNICATION. THE STUDENT PILOT ENCOUNTERED CLOUDS, SNOW SHOWERS, ICING CONDITIONS, REDUCED VISIBILITY, AND IMC OVER MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. SHE REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE RPM AT FULL THROTTLE, PITOT ICING AND LOSS OF ALTITUDE. SHE SIGHTED A HIGHWAY AND MADE A FORCED LANDING. THE PLANE STRUCK TREES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE HIGHWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N99378](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99378-1991-04-10), registration cancelled 1991-04-10, S/N 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415C
- Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2001
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paxton, Thomas L.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Departed: SKX, TAOS, NM
- Destination: DRO, DURANGO, CO
- Airport: NONE

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 16; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 28 total, 28 in this make and model, 12 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: SAF, 50 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 19900303004859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900303004859A), Mar 3, 1990: Univar 415C, Tierra Amarilla, NM, Substantial damage. Flew into snow shower. Iced up, tried land on road struck trees.

## Other investigations on N99378 (1)

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.

- [NTSB DEN74DQD28](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN74DQD28), Jun 23, 1974: Erco 415-C (N99378), Animas, NM, 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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