# NTSB DEN91LA062: Ercoupe 415-C, N87259, Santa Rosa, NM, April 19, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 19, 1991, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, NM - Coordinates: 34.940528, -104.670661 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9405&lon=-104.6707&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 13, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 18083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18083/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91LA062 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL CLEARANCE AND PHYSICAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - formation flying - inadequate, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - formation flying - performed, pilot in command - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N87259](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87259-2017-05-23), registration cancelled 2017-05-23, S/N 432, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 432 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N3210H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3210H), registered now, S/N 3835, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C - Registry model: [Engineering & Research 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-415-c) (registry code 0420302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 432 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N87259; age 59; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N3210H; age 65; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19910419011572A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910419011572A), Apr 19, 1991: Univar 415C, Santa Rosa, NM, Destroyed. While flying in formation with another Ercoupe N3210H lost sight of it then was hit from below by same. Crashed. - [Accident 19910419011571A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910419011571A), Apr 19, 1991: Univar 415C, Santa Rosa, NM, Substantial damage. While flying in formation with another Ercoupe lost sight of NR1 lead aircraft,N87259,pulled up. Collided with same 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.