On February 26, 1987, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (registration N93977) was involved in an aviation accident near Clearwater, FL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A private pilot attempted to reduce throttle for landing but the control did not respond. After landing, braking failed to stop the aircraft, which slid off the runway into a ditch. Post-accident examination found the throttle controls functioning normally, with the throttle and trim controls located 2 inches apart and similar in appearance and feel.
Incident Details
A private pilot was conducting a landing when the throttle control did not reduce engine power as expected. The pilot proceeded to land and subsequently attempted to stop the aircraft using the brakes. However, the aircraft slid off the end of the runway and entered a ditch.
Post-Accident Examination
Following the accident, an examination of the throttle controls was performed. The examination revealed that the throttle controls functioned normally. It was noted that the throttle control and the trim control are positioned 2 inches apart on the instrument panel and share a similar look and feel.