# NTSB LAX81FUM16: Erco 415-D, N57982, El Cajon, CA, June 20, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: June 20, 1981
- Place: El Cajon, CA · EL CAJON, CA
- Location: 32.8017° N, 116.9605° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of El Cajon, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8017&lon=-116.9605&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 125636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUM16
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUM16

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1383  81/6/20    EL CAJON,CA         ERCO 415-D          CR-  0  1  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 46, 560
        TIME - 0900                    N57982              PX-  0  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 300 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - GILLESPIE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LAKE HAVASU CITY,AZ         EL CAJON,CA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
          MISC-OIL EXHAUSTION FOR UNDETERMINED REASON
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OIL EXHAUSTION-ENGINE LUBRICATION SYSTEM
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - ROUGH/UNEVEN
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
        REMARKS- ONLY 4 OUNCES OF OIL FOUND IN ENG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N57982](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N57982-1982-04-19), registration cancelled 1982-04-19, S/N 3513 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415-D
- Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Gillespie

## 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 19810620034579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810620034579A), Jun 20, 1981: Univar 415D, El Cajon, CA, Substantial damage. Connecting rod failed. Went through engine case. Struck large rock on emergency landing. Engine had overheated.

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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