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NYC89LA151

1989-06-19 · CANAAN, Connecticut, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN DUE TO A POWER LOSS, CAUSED BY LOOSE PARTS IN THE FUEL PUMP.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT OF THE ERCOUPE 415C WAS RETURNING TO HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT COULD NOT LAND ON A HIGHWAY BECAUSE TREES WERE IN HIS FLIGHT PATH AND HE LANDED IN A LAKE. NEITHER OCCUPANT WAS INJURED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND SANK. THE ON SCENE INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP SHOWED THAT SEVERAL PARTS OF THE FUEL PUMP WERE LOOSE ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE PUMP IN FLIGHT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1989_NYC89LA151.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.