# NTSB LAX77FA016: Erco 415-C, N87406, Murrieta, CA, December 26, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: December 26, 1976
- Place: Murrieta, CA · MURRIETA, CA
- Location: 33.5539° N, 117.2139° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Murrieta, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5539&lon=-117.2139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 8, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 156656
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX77FA016
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX77FA016-156656

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3869  76/12/26   MURRIETA,CA         ERCO 415-C          CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 24, 78 TOTAL
        TIME - 1135                    N87406              PX-  0  1  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  HOURS, 20 IN TYPE, NOT
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          HUNTINGTON BEACH,CA         LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           GEAR COLLAPSED                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - FUEL SYSTEM: CARBURETOR
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPER ALIGNMENT/ADJUSTMENT
           PERSONNEL - MAINTENANCE,SERVICING,INSPECTION: INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- CARBURETOR FLOAT OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. FLOODED ENG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N87406](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87406-1982-04-13), registration cancelled 1982-04-13, S/N 579, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19761226041839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19761226041839A), Dec 26, 1976: Univar 415C, Murrieta, CA, Destroyed. Carburetor float out of adjustment. Flooded eng.

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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