NTSB NYC91LA181 — 1991-07-14 · SACRAMENTO, Kentucky, United States

Current FAA registration · N980DD

Make / Model: ERCOUPE 415-D
Year of manufacture: 1946 · 45 years old at event
Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES (75 hp)
Seats / Engines: 2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date: 19560714
ADS-B equipped: Yes — Mode-S ADAB73

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

N980DD Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415D None

Probable cause & findings

THE PILOT'S DECISION TO CONDUCT FLIGHT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE AIRCRAFT.

Factual narrative

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE EXPERIENCED ENGINE VIBRATIONS WHILE ENROUTE TO NEW ALBANY, KENTUCKY, SO HE MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A DIRT ROAD. DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK CORN STALKS NEXT TO THE ROAD. THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF A BROKEN LANDING LIGHT LENS CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LEFT LEADING EDGE OF THE WING. THE PILOT INSPECTED THE WING AND WITHOUT REPLACING THE LENS, HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF. ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRCRAFT MADE AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT TURN. DESPITE CORRECTIVE ACTION THE AIRCRAFT TURNED 270 DEGREES, STRUCK THE GROUND AND CARTWHEELED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1991_NYC91LA181.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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