# Accident 20140719011939A: Ercoupe 415-C, Hubbard, OR, July 19, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 19, 2014, 10:45 local time
- Place: Hubbard, OR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.1717° N, 122.7575° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1717&lon=-122.7575&mi=10
- Aircraft: N99621, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99621-2018-02-13) (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: ERCOUPE 415-C
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 715 total, 3 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA301) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140719011939A

## Narrative

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

AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 AM LOCAL TIME, SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2014, ERCOUPE 415C, N99621, IMPACTED TREES APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE SOUTH OF RUNWAY 02, LENHARDT AIRPARK (7S9), HUBBARD, OREGON.

IT APPEARS THE LEFT WING BROKE OFF AN 18 INCH DIAMETER, 100 FOOT TALL TREE, AT APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE WINGS, TAKING THE INITIAL IMPACT, TWISTED BACKWARDS AND FOLDED BACK, ABSORBING MOST OF THE IMPACT ENERGY BY DRAGGING THROUGH THE BRANCHES OF THE SURROUNDING TREES.  THE FUSELAGE CAUGHT AN APPROXIMATELY 8 INCH DIAMETER TREE BETWEEN THE FUSELAGE AND RIGHT WING ROOT.  THE WRECKAGE SLID DOWN THIS TREE AS THE TREE  BENT DOWNWARD, AND SLOWED IMPACT WITH THE GROUND CONSIDERABLY.

THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST 45 DEGREES NOSE DOWN, 45 DEGREES RIGHT WING LOW.  BOTH WINGS WERE TOTALLY DESTROYED, TWISTED, AND FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE FUSELAGE. THE FUSELAGE, WHILE REMAINING INTACT, WAS TWISTED AT THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE WING FUEL TANK (L/H WING ROOT) WAS RUPTURED BY IMPACT WITH A TREE.  THE NOSE HEADER FUEL TANK FILLER CAP CAME LOOSE AT SOME POINT DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE, BUT THE TANK STILL HELD APPROXIMATELY 3 GALLONS AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING STRONG AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THERE WAS NO FIRE.

THE ACCIDENT WITNESS (A PILOT) SAW THE APPROACH AND THOUGHT TO HIMSELF THAT IT WAS PRETTY LOW, JUST AS THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOPS AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE TREES.

THE ACCIDENT PILOT STATED THAT IT WAS A WINDY DAY AND THAT A ?CROSS WIND SHEAR BURST? MOVED HIS AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT OF THE APPROACH PATH,  ?SWINGING? THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT AND ?DIRECTING IT? INTO A STAND OF TREES.

THE ACCIDENT WITNESS HELPED THE PILOT AND PASSENGER FROM THE AIRCRAFT. THE 80 YEAR OLD ACCIDENT PILOT AND HIS 70 YEAR OLD PASSENGER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE.  BOTH WERE RELEASED WITHIN AN HOUR.

THE ACCIDENT PILOT WAS CURRENT IN MAKE/MODEL, HAVING HAD HIS BFR 06-18-2014. HE WAS ACTING AS A SPORT PILOT, NOT HOLDING A MEDICAL SINCE 2002.  (ERCOUPE 415C MAY BE OPERATED BY A LIGHT SPORT PILOT).  THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN ANNUAL INSPECTION (03-07-2014 AT 2373.8 TT) AND ALL AD?S COMPLIED WITH.

## 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 WPR14CA301](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA301), Jul 19, 2014: Ercoupe 415 C (N99621), Hubbart, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and proper alignment during approach for landing in gusting wind conditions.

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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