# NTSB MIA97LA234: Ercoupe 415-C, N2237H, Siler City, NC, August 16, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 16, 1997, 16:43 local (20:43 UTC) - Place: Siler City, NC - Coordinates: 35.720027, -79.459938 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7200&lon=-79.4599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38328 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38328/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA234 ## Probable cause Failure of the pilot to obtain a preflight weather briefing, inaccurate weather evaluation by the pilot, and his poor in-flight planning decision for descending too low to read a road sign. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, descent - preflight briefing service - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - became lost/disoriented, pilot in command - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - object - guy wire ## Analysis The pilot did not obtain a preflight weather briefing before departure then shortly after takeoff, his passenger noted fuel coming from the right wing fuel tank cap. The flight continued then 20-30 minutes later, the right wing fuel tank sight gauge indicated 1/4 capacity. He elected to divert to the Asheboro airport to determine the fuel problem but due to his wind overcorrection, he was unable to locate the airport. He then elected to fly to the Siler City airport and after recognizing a nearby highway, he elected to descend to read a highway sign. The airplane collided with an unmarked span guy wire that ranges in height to 28-36 feet above ground level. The airplane then collided with and remained suspended in trees. ## Factual narrative On August 16, 1997, about 1643 eastern daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2237H, registered to a private individual, collided with an unmarked span guy wire near Siler City, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 1500, from the Shiflet Field Airport, Marion, North Carolina. The pilot did not obtain a formal weather briefing before departure and stated that shortly after takeoff, his passenger noted fuel spray coming from the right fuel tank fuel cap. About 20-30 minutes later, the fuel tank sight indicator was indicating 1/4 tank capacity remaining. He elected to divert to the Asheboro Airport to determine the reason for the problem, but he was unable to locate the airport due to his wind overcorrection. He then elected to fly to the Siler City airport but while looking for landmarks, he noted a nearby highway that he thought he recognized. He intentionally descended to note the markings on a highway sign, but collided with an unmarked span guy wire which was between 28 and 36 feet above ground level. The airplane then veered to the left and collided with and remained suspended in the trees that border the highway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2237H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2237H), registered now, S/N 2860, 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 A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2860 - Engines: Continental C75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clyde W. Hooker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 1996 - Departed: 9A9, MARION, NC - Destination: W44, ASHEBORO, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total, 34 in this make and model, 1,675 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GSO, 32 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 19970816022539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970816022539A), Aug 16, 1997: Univar 415C, Silver City, NC, Substantial damage. Fuel spray from fuel cap. Descended to view highway marker struck guy wire at approx 30 ft AGL. Landed in trees. (-23) while enroute to asheboro, NC (W44) from… ## Other investigations on N2237H (1) 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. - [NTSB IAD70DIG15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD70DIG15), May 2, 1970: Erco 415-C (N2237H), College Park, MD, substantial damage 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.