# NTSB FTW84FA034: Ercoupe 415-C, N99096, Longview, TX, October 29, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 29, 1983, 12:26 local (17:26 UTC)
- Place: Longview, TX
- Coordinates: 32.510879, -94.760437 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5109&lon=-94.7604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21075
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21075/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA034

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - overtemperature (cause)
  - engine assembly,connecting rod - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

AS THE ACFT WAS FLYING TOWARD THE ARPT, ABOUT 1 MI AWAY, A WITNESS HEARD A LOUD POP OR BANG & THEN NO FURTHER ENG SOUND.THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO CLIMB ABOVE SOME TALL TREES ABOUT 300 YDS FROM THE END OF THE RWY, BUT IMPACTED THE TOPS OF THE TREES. THE #1 CONROD HAD SEPARATED. ITS BEARING, THE END OF THE ROD & THE CRANKSHAFT JOURNAL REVEALED EVIDENCE OF EXTREME TEMPERATURE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A LACK OF LUBRICATION THROUGHOUT THE ENG. THE LUBRICATING OIL BLADDER WAS EMPTY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N99096 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1719
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William J. Tusek
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 33F, East Side, runway 8, 2,025 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Observed at: GGG, 9 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 19831029055889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831029055889A), Oct 29, 1983: Univar 415C, Longview, TX, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine seized and threw a rod due to lack of engine oil. Struck trees crashed and burned trying to reach airport.

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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