# Accident 19970729045469A: Univar 415C, Elma, WA, July 29, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 1997, 15:00 local time
- Place: Elma, WA
- Airport: Elma Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.0995° N, 123.3909° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0995&lon=-123.3909&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3578H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3578H-2012-07-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ercoupe 415-C (registry code 0420322, https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C75 series (registry code 17005, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: UNIVAR 415C
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 120 total, 60 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA97LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA197) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970729045469A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4)ON JULY 29, 1997, APPROXIAMTELY 1000 PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, AN ERCOUPE 415-C, N3578H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE PILOT LOST CONTROL WHILE LANDING ON RUNWAY 25 AT ELMA, WASHINGTON. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND HER PASSENGER WERE UNINJURED.  NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT, AND THERE WAS NO REPORT OF THE ELT ACTUATING.  THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY ABOUT 300 FEET FROM THE LANDING END OF RUNWAY 25.  WINDS WERE 180 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, ACCORDING TO AN FAA SOURCE.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE WINDS AS BEING 250 DEGREES AT 10-15 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 15-20 KNOTS.  THE OCCURRENCE WAS REPORTED TO THE FAA ON AUGUST 20, 1997.  A DE TERMINATION THAT THE DAMAGE COMPRISED AN ACCIDENT WAS DETERMINED AN AUGUST 29, 1997.  THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE WAS LANDING ON A NARROW RUNWAY.  WHEN THE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, SHE REALIZED AN APPARENT WIND GUST HAD FORCED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT OF THE CINTERLINE.  AS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STEER BACK TO THE RIGHT, THE LEFT WING TIP STRUCK ADJACENT SHRUBBERY.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB SEA97LA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA197), Jul 29, 1997: Ercoupe 415-C (N3578H), Elma, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions while landing. A factor was the crosswind.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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