- Date
- September 18, 1985, 16:56 local (23:56 UTC)
- Place
- Orchards, WA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N93848Ercoupe 415-C
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850918045619A
- Case key
- 40063
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pvt plt was observed executing a wings level pull-up from a dive during which, the witness reported, the wing tips began fluttering. Immediately thereafter, both wings separated in positive overload. Visual meteorological conditions existed in the area of the accident and winds were light with no reported tubulence. There was no evidence of any pre-existing weakness in the spar structure at the separation point. The condition necessitating the plt's pull-up maneuver could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93848
- Reported as
- Ercoupe 415-C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1171
- Engine
- Continental C85-12F, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John R. Stauffer
- Registered owner
- John R. Stauffer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- 59S · Vancouver, WA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 110 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 66 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PDX, 9 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.