On January 14, 1992, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (registration N86964) operated by William N. Hall was involved in an aviation accident near Hansville, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to conduct a cross-country flight without a weather briefing or required instructor endorsement while encountering adverse weather conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot departed without a weather briefing or required instructor endorsement, encountering adverse conditions over Puget Sound before disappearing.
What happened
The pilot initiated a visual flight rules cross-country departure without obtaining a pre-flight weather briefing. During the transit, the aircraft entered an area of adverse weather conditions for which the pilot lacked the necessary instructor endorsement. The aircraft failed to reach its intended destination, prompting the initiation of a search operation.
Findings
Search efforts located the main landing gear and the pilot on a beach situated along the route of flight. The remainder of the wreckage was not recovered from the waters of Puget Sound. The absence of a weather briefing and the lack of proper endorsement contributed to the incident in deteriorating conditions.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to conduct a cross-country flight without a weather briefing or required instructor endorsement while encountering adverse weather conditions.