# Accident 20150814013679A: Ercoupe 415-C, Fairmont, WV, August 14, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 14, 2015, 14:02 local time
- Place: Fairmont, WV
- Airport: Fairmont Municipal-Frankman Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.4478° N, 80.1675° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4478&lon=-80.1675&mi=10
- Aircraft: N93606, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93606) (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 A&C75 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 100 total, 100 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15CA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA317) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150814013679A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED FUEL QUANITY WAS KNOWN PRIOR TO TAKEOFF BY VISUAL INSPECTION OF TANKS.  DURING TAKEOFF, PILOT NOTICED MAIN FUEL TANK GAUGE BEGINNING TO DROP RAPIDLY AND FEARED THAT HE HAD A FUEL ISSUE. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE FIELD BUT STATED THAT HE WAS TOO FAST ON APPROACH. PILOT STATED THAT HE RAISED THE NOSE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN BUT REALIZED HE WAS TOO SLOW AND LOW WHEN HE NOSED OVER RESULTING IN A HARD LANDING AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

## 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 ERA15CA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA317), Aug 14, 2015: Ercoupe 415 C (N93606), Fairmont, WV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and his exceedance of the wing's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent collision with terrain.

## Other reports on N93606 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20121004023139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121004023139A), Oct 4, 2012: Ercoupe 415-C (N93606), Parkersburg, WV, Substantial damage. The student pilot, conducting a solo cross country flight, stated that he encountered a gust of wind prior to touching down on runway 3 and landed hard causing…

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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