# NTSB SEA06CA101: Ercoupe 415-C, N2426H, Vaughn, WA, May 20, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 19, 2006, 17:30 local (May 20, 2006, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Vaughn, WA - Coordinates: 47.356388, -122.794998 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3564&lon=-122.7950&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63728 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA101 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63728/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA101 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Ditching, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot said he approached a private runway with the carburetor heat on and the engine's throttle back. He said he descended in a glide from 1,500 feet to 500 feet, and flew over the runway to make sure it was clear of people and obstacles. When he added power back in, the engine sputtered, ran for a short time, and lost power. The pilot said that he picked a place near the shore and ditched in the salty water. He attributed the loss of engine power to carburetor ice. ## Factual narrative On May 19, 2006, at approximately 1730 Pacific daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N2426H, was substantially damaged during a ditching in the Puget Sound near Vaughn, Washington. The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, cross-country flight which had originated approximately 10 minutes before the accident from Tacoma Narrows Airport, Tacoma, Washington. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said he approached a private runway with the carburetor heat on and the engine's throttle back. He said he descended in a glide from 1,500 feet to 500 feet, and flew over the runway to make sure it was clear of people and obstacles. When he added power back in, the engine sputtered, ran for a short time, and lost power. The pilot said that he picked a place near the shore and ditched in the salty water. He attributed the loss of engine power to carburetor ice. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2426H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2426H-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 3051, 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: 3051 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dale A. Powell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2005 - Departed: TIW, Tacoma, WA - Destination: NONE, Vaughn, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 400 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PWT, 8 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 20060519021849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060519021849A), May 19, 2006: Univar 415C, Vaughn, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost power and crashed into the water at case inlet near rocky point near Vaughn, Washington. Pilot attributed the loss of engine power to… 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.