# NTSB NYC89LA151: Ercoupe Ercoupe 415C, N93765, Canaan, CT, June 20, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 19, 1989, 20:00 local (Jun 20, 1989, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Canaan, CT
- Location: 42.0401° N, 73.3329° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Canaan, CT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0401&lon=-73.3329&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36425
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89LA151
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36425/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89LA151

## Probable cause

AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO A POWER LOSS, CAUSED BY LOOSE PARTS IN THE FUEL PUMP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Forced landing, cruise
  - powerplant - failure,partial (cause)
  - emergency procedure - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,pump - loose (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - water (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT OF THE ERCOUPE 415C WAS RETURNING TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT LAND ON A HIGHWAY BECAUSE TREES WERE IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND HE LANDED IN A LAKE. NEITHER OCCUPANT WAS INJURED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND SANK. THE ON SCENE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP SHOWED THAT SEVERAL PARTS OF THE FUEL PUMP WERE LOOSE ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE PUMP IN FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N93765](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93765-1995-02-21), registration cancelled 1995-02-21, S/N 1088 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415C (ERCOUPE 41)
- Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420312) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1088
- Airframe hours: 1062
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Curtis W.Hewitt, Jr.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: CANAAN, CT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 350 total, 300 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point -0 °F

## 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 19890619016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890619016649A), Jun 19, 1989: Univar 415C, Canaan, CT, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on local flight,ditched in a lake. Aircraft burned and sank. Loose fuel filter & pump depleted fuel

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.