# NTSB OAK76DXQ36: Erco 415-CD, N3540H, Crescent Vly, NV, March 13, 1976

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: March 13, 1976
- Place: Crescent Vly, NV · CRESCENT VLY, NV
- Location: 40.4198° N, 116.5753° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crescent Valley, NV, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4198&lon=-116.5753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 13, 1976
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 152944
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=OAK76DXQ36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK76DXQ36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0780  76/3/13    CRESCENT VLY,NV     ERCO 415-CD         CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 47, 799
        TIME - 1430                    N3540H              PX-  0  0  1  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, ALL IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - CRESCENT VALLEY
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          CRESCENT VLY,NV            UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           TURBULENCE                                               TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  LANDING: OTHER
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           WEATHER - DOWNDRAFT,UPDRAFTS
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
           TERRAIN - HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS
        WEATHER BRIEFING - SELF-HELP,PILOT CHECKED WEATHER DATA
        WEATHER FORECAST - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
                                  ADVERSE/UNFAVORABLE WEATHER
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          CLEAR                                                     10000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          5 OR OVER(UNLIMITED)                                     NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          NONE                                                      38
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
          270                                                       16
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          VFR                                                      NONE
        REMARKS- ENCTRD SEVERE DOWNDRAFT & FORCED INTO GRND. DENSITY ALT ABT 4500FT. PWR LINES & HOUSES IN PATH.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3540H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3540H-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 4165, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ERCO 415-CD
- Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-cd) (registry code 0420314) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Crescent Valley

## 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 19760313005929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19760313005929A), Mar 13, 1976: Univar 415CD, Crescent Vly, NV, Substantial damage. Enctrd severe downdraft & forced into grnd. Density alt abt 4500FT. Pwr lines & houses in path.

## Other investigations on N3540H (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 LAX67F0101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX67F0101), Aug 20, 1966: Erco 415-CD (N3540H), Pacoima, CA, 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.

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