# NTSB ATL88LA050: Ercoupe 415-CD, N3849H, Union City, TN, November 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1987, 16:25 local (22:25 UTC)
- Place: Union City, TN
- Coordinates: 36.419624, -89.049377 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4196&lon=-89.0494&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7683
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88LA050
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7683/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88LA050

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,steering system - failure,total (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THE ACFT STARTED TO VEER OFF THE RWY AFTER A 'ROUGH' LNDG. HE ATMTD TO STEER THE PLANE WITH THE STEERING CONTROL, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT VEERED OFF THE RWY. ABOUT 50' TO THE SIDE OF THE RWY, THE NOSE GEAR HIT A HOLE & COLLAPSED. A POST-ACDNT EXAM REVEALED THE STEERING LUG ON THE NOSEWHEEL STRUT HAD FRACTURED & SEPARATED. NO EVIDENCE OF FATIGUE WAS FOUND. THIS ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH INDEPENDENT, PEDAL OPERATED BRAKES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3849H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3849H), registered now, S/N 4550 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-CD
- Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-cd) (registry code 0420314) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4550
- Airframe hours: 1696
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James W. Campbell
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 14, 1987, 13 hours before
- Departed: UCY
- Airport: UCY, Everett-Stewart, runway 1, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 52 in this make and model, 17,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19871108068959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871108068959A), Nov 8, 1987: Univar 415CD, Union City, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot made a rough landing. Veered off runway and impacted a hole in rough terrain. Nose gear collapsed.

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.

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