Ercoupe

At approximately 1530 mountain time, an Engineering and Research Corporation 415D struck power lines and crashed a half mile west of Mid-Valley Airpark. The pilot and passenger were killed. Witnesses said the airplane entered a left traffic pattern for runway 36, but strong easterly crosswinds had the airplanes wings wobbling. One witness called the pilot on the radio and suggested he land on a closed runway that is normally used as a taxiway. The pilot acknowledged and made a tight turn toward the downwind leg, striking power lines with the left wing….

At 09:23 MST, an Ercoupe 415E crashed on approach to the Kingman Airport. The pilot and passenger were killed. The flight originated from Lake Havasu City, Ariz., about 08:30 as part of the Arizona Ercoupe Groups annual Wing Ding fly-in. The initial portion of the flight involved traveling to the Kingman Airport, where breakfast was to be served, and other activities related to the fly-in were planned. Within 10 minutes before and after the accident, other pilots in the group who also entered the Kingman traffic pattern reported moderate to extreme turbulence in the pattern. Several pilots also reported experiencing windshear while descending on the base and final approach legs. A witness r…

At about 17:00 EST, an Ercoupe 415-C crashed during a forced landing at Griffiss Airpark. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot was shooting touch and goes when he inadvertently selected the mixture control to off instead of carburetor heat at 300 feet agl. The pilot realized the error, but elected to continue the approach without trying to restart the engine because of altitude remaining. The airplane then developed a high sink rate and the airplane impacted the runway approximately 10 degrees nose down at 50 knots….

At about 18:30 EDT, an Ercoupe 415-C struck trees while maneuvering, seriously injuring the pilot. Witnesses reported the airplane was flying low over a private airstrip at a height of three to four feet above the ground. At the end of the airstrip the airplane pulled up and banked hard to the right. The right wing tip struck a tree. The airplane traveled about 1,500 feet and came to rest in a tree….

At approximately 08:30 mountain time, an Ercoupe 415-D caught fire after a hard landing at Ravalli County Airport. The student pilot/owner died of burns about two days later. The flight is believed to have departed the pilots private airstrip near Missoula, Mont., about 20 minutes prior to the accident. Witnesses said the pilot was landing with a quartering tailwind and was established at a much lower altitude than would normally be expected. As the aircraft neared the runway, it appeared to witnesses to lose airspeed and drop onto the runway very hard. Almost immediately after contacting the runway, flames were seen coming from the belly of the aircraft near the firewall. By the time the a…

At 16:45 mountain time, an Ercoupe 415-C crashed immediately after takeoff from Tucumcari Municipal Airport. Both occupants, neither of who were certificated or student pilots, were killed. The flight was unauthorized by the airplanes owner. The occupants were reportedly a father and son who had been hired to mow grass at the airport. An airport employee said the airplane reached about 150 feet agl, wobbled from side to side, and dove nose-first to the ground….