# NTSB LAX94LA167: Ercoupe 415-C, N99520, Stallion Spring, CA, March 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 1994, 11:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Stallion Spring, CA - Coordinates: 35.119346, -118.509742 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1193&lon=-118.5097&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 January 3, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28699 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX94LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28699/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA167 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HIS FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING, THE LOW CLOUDS, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, climb - to cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly (contributing factor) - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction - object - tree(s) ## Analysis DURING CLIMB TO CRUISE, THE PILOT OBSERVED A CLOUD OVER THE MOUNTANOUS TERRAIN ALONG THE INTENDED ROUTE. AS HE LOOKED DOWN AT HIS SECTIONAL CHART, THE AIRPLANE ENTERED THE CLOUD. WHILE EXECUTING A 180-DEG TURN THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 1994, at 1100 hours Pacific standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N99520, collided with some trees in mountainous terrain after encountering instrument meteorological conditions near Stallion Springs, California. The pilot was conducting a visual flight rules personal flight to William J. Fox Airport, Lancaster, California. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries and his passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight originated at Frazier Lake Airpark (1C9), Hollister, California, at 0900 hours. According to the pilot, the flight departed Shafter-Minter Field, Shafter, California, about 1050 hours. The pilot told the Kern County Coroner's investigator that during the flight he inadvertently entered a cloud. The airplane struck the trees as he was executing a 180-degree turn. The pilot submitted a Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He stated in the report that the airplane was in a cruise climb configuration when he observed a cloud above the ridge line along the airplane's flight path. The airplane's altitude was about 5,000 mean sea level. The pilot momentarily looked down at his aeronautical sectional chart to check the mountainous terrain altitude. When he looked up, the cloud ". . . seemed to descend . . ." in front of the airplane. The airplane entered the cloud. The pilot started a 180-degree right turn and then observed a tree. He pulled the airplane's nose up and moments later the airplane struck another tree. The pilot indicated in the accident report that he did not obtain a weather briefing before departing on the accident flight. He also indicated that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99520](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99520), registered now, S/N 2143, 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 C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2143 - Airframe hours: 2200 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-L-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Woodward, Allen G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1993, 34 hours before - Departed: MIT, SHAFTER, CA - Destination: WJF, LANCASTER, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 150 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19940317005889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940317005889A), Mar 17, 1994: Univar 415C, Arvin, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Flew into side of cloud obscured mountain ridge. No weather briefing. 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.