- Date
- April 19, 1991, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Santa Rosa, NM
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19910419011572A19910419011571A
- Case key
- 18083
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot of the other aircraft failed to maintain clearance between the aircraft.
The pilot's failure to maintain visual clearance and physical clearance between the aircraft.
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.
Analysis
Two like-model airplanes flew in formation. The second aircraft struck the lead aircraft (N3210H). The lead aircraft was substantially damaged; however, a successful landing was made. The second aircraft's flight controls were damaged in the collision and the pilot was unable to control the aircraft, which entered a left spiral. Just prior to impact, he partially flared the aircraft by pulling aft on the control yoke as hard as possible.
Two like-model airplanes flew in formation. The second aircraft struck the lead aircraft. The lead aircraft was substantially damaged; however, a successful landing was made. The second aircraft's (N87259) flight controls were damaged in the collision and the pilot was unable to control the aircraft, which entered a left spiral. Just prior to impact, he partially flared the aircraft by pulling aft on the control yoke as hard as possible.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N87259
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 432
- Engine
- Continental C-75-12, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stanley E. Jennings
- Registered owner
- Stanley E. Jennings
- Departed
- TCC · Tucumcari, NM
- Destination
- SEZ · Sedona, AZ
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.
- Registration
- N3210H
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 432
- Engine
- Continental C-75-12, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Stanley E. Jennings
- Registered owner
- Stanley E. Jennings
- Departed
- TCC · Tucumcari, NM
- Destination
- SEZ · Sedona, AZ
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N87259
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 689 total · 686 in this make and model · 667 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3210H
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 3,195 total · 2,006 in this make and model · 14 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 45° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,800 ft broken
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.