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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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November 3, 1990 · Ercoupe Eng & Research 415C · N9409B

Shelby, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 3, 1990
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Shelby, MI
Aircraft
Ercoupe Eng & Research 415C
Tail Number
N9409B
Operator
Elmer N Hall
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI91DEM01

THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SHORT VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE AREA AROUND HIS HOME AIRPORT WAS FOGGED IN. VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3/4 OF A MILE WITH A CEILING VARYING FROM TREE TOP LEVEL TO 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE FLYING AROUND THE AREA FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES. THEY STATED IT WAS MAKING SOUNDS LIKE A 'CROP DUSTER'. TWO WITNESSES BRIEFLY SAW THE AIRPLANE COME OUT OF, AND RE-ENTER, THE LOW CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS, BANKING STEEPLY DURING A PULLUP MANEUVER AND STALLING. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE.

Full Narrative

THE PRIVATE PILOT DEPARTED ON A SHORT VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT TO HIS HOME AIRPORT. THE AREA AROUND HIS HOME AIRPORT WAS FOGGED IN. VISIBILITY WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 3/4 OF A MILE WITH A CEILING VARYING FROM TREE TOP LEVEL TO 700 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE FLYING AROUND THE AREA FOR 15 TO 30 MINUTES. THEY STATED IT WAS MAKING SOUNDS LIKE A 'CROP DUSTER'. TWO WITNESSES BRIEFLY SAW THE AIRPLANE COME OUT OF, AND RE-ENTER, THE LOW CLOUDS. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED COMING OUT OF THE CLOUDS, BANKING STEEPLY DURING A PULLUP MANEUVER AND STALLING. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED TO THE LEFT AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:50 EST
Nearest AirportOceana County (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftErcoupe Eng & Research 415C
Tail NumberN9409B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorElmer N Hall
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85 · Reciprocating · 85
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 66 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsIMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data