# NTSB FTW87FA222: Ercoupe 415-D, N3815H, Jackson, LA, September 20, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 20, 1987, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place: Jackson, LA
- Coordinates: 30.829317, -91.210739 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.8293&lon=-91.2107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22279
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA222
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22279/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA222

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

JUST PRIOR TO THE ACDNT, WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT FLYING AT LOW ALT OVER A CREEK. THEY RPRTD THE ACFT WENT INTO A STEEP CLIMBING LEFT TURN FROM ABOUT 40 TO 75 FT AGL, THEN IT ENTERED A STEEP DESCENT & CRASHED IN THE CREEK.  NO ENG PROBLEMS OR CHANGES IN THE ENG SOUND WERE NOTED BEFORE IMPACT & NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N3815H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4516
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Bryan J. Prejean
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: BTR, BATON ROUGE, LA
- Destination: BTR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 340 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTR, 19 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 19870920053479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870920053479A), Sep 20, 1987: Univar 415D, Jackson, LA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Stalled at low altitude while making steep climbing turn. Crashed in creek in nearly vertical attitude.

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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