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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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September 25, 1983 · Ercoupe Eng & Research 415-C · N3184

Raymond, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 25, 1983
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
Raymond, IL
Aircraft
Ercoupe Eng & Research 415-C
Tail Number
N3184
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI83FA440

During a WX briefing at 1433 CDT, the PLT was advised to expect 500 ft ceilings, 2 mi visibilities, rain showers & thunderstorms. He then took off from Bismark, MO with no FLT plan. Reportedly, WX was encountered during the FLT which deteriorated as he proceeded along the route. Subsequently, the ACFT crashed inverted, in a corn field near Raymond, IL. A witness said that he saw the ACFT 'going or spinning straight down'; however, he did not see the actual crash. An investigation revealed the outer 4-ft section of the left wing & the left aileron had separated in FLT. There was evidence that they had separated upward & aft, no evidence of fatigue or corrosion was found in the fracture area. The right wing tip had also failed, but it had not separated from the ACFT. An NTSB WX summary showed that the cloud bases were at appx 700 ft AGL & the cloud tops were at about 14,000 ft MSL. About 50 mi northeast at Decatur, IL, there was a 2000 ft overcast. The ACFT was not equipped with certified turn & bank or attitude indicator.

Full Narrative

DURING A WX BRIEFING AT 1433 CDT, THE PLT WAS ADVISED TO EXPECT 500 FT CEILINGS, 2 MI VISIBILITIES, RAIN SHOWERS & THUNDERSTORMS. HE THEN TOOK OFF FROM BISMARK, MO WITH NO FLT PLAN. REPORTEDLY, WX WAS ENCOUNTERED DURING THE FLT WHICH DETERIORATED AS HE PROCEEDED ALONG THE ROUTE. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED INVERTED, IN A CORN FIELD NEAR RAYMOND, IL. A WITNESS SAID THAT HE SAW THE ACFT 'GOING OR SPINNING STRAIGHT DOWN; HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEE THE ACTUAL CRASH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THE OUTER 4-FT SECTION OF THE LEFT WING & THE LEFT AILERON HAD SEPARATED IN FLT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THEY HAD SEPARATED UPWARD & AFT, NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE OR CORROSION WAS FOUND IN THE FRACTURE AREA. THE RIGHT WING TIP HAD ALSO FAILED, BUT IT HAD NOT SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT. AN NTSB WX SUMMARY SHOWED THAT THE CLOUD BASES WERE AT APPX 700 FT AGL & THE CLOUD TOPS WERE AT ABOUT 14,000 FT MSL. ABOUT 50 MI NORTHEAST AT DECATUR, IL, THERE WAS A 2000 FT OVERCAST. THE ACFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH CERTIFIED TURN & BANK OR ATTITUDE INDICATOR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftErcoupe Eng & Research 415-C
Tail NumberN3184
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C-85-12F · Reciprocating · 75
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind23° @ 9 kt
Visibility3 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 61 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data