On December 21, 1988, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415C (registration N99636) operated by Kautz, James P. was involved in an aviation accident near Oklahoma City, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Improperly installed wing fabric that detached in flight, leading to a loss of control. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft entered a steep banked spiral during flight due to improperly installed wing fabric that detached, resulting in a crash into a garage and the ground.
During the course of flight, the airplane appeared to enter a steep banked spiral from which it did not recover. The aircraft subsequently struck a two-car detached garage before impacting the ground.
A post-accident inspection revealed that the fabric on both wings had been installed improperly. Additionally, part of the fabric on the left wing had come loose during flight.
The improper installation of the wing fabric contributed to the loss of control.
Improperly installed wing fabric that detached in flight, leading to a loss of control.