# NTSB BFO95LA047: Ercoupe 415-C, N99248, Bridgeton, NJ, March 31, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 31, 1995, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place: Bridgeton, NJ
- Location: 39.4737° N, 75.1846° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BUCKS (00N), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4737&lon=-75.1846&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9042
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9042/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA047

## Probable cause

the student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.  A factor in the accident was the suddenly changing wind condition.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor)
  - recovery from bounced landing - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload
- Nose down, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE LANDING AT ON AN UNCONTROLLED GRASS STRIP, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, AND BOUNCED TWICE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, NOSED DOWN.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, HE FELT THE AIRPLANE 'ACCELERATE.'  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE WIND SOCK PRIOR TO LANDING AND IT WAS INDICATING CALM WIND.  HE STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND SOCK WAS STANDING 'STRAIGHT OUT.'   HE STATED THAT THE WIND DIRECTION WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE AIRPLANE A TAILWIND DURING THE ACCIDENT LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO AIRPLANE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Factual narrative

On March 31, 1995, at 1215 eastern standard time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N99248, was substantially damaged during landing on a grass strip at Bucks Airport in Bridgeton, New Jersey.  The student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The solo instructional flight originated from the Millville Municipal Airport in Millville, New Jersey, about 1145, and was destined for the Bucks Airport.  The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot reported that he "...flew over airport, checked wind sock - no wind."  He stated that during touchdown, he felt the airplane "accelerate."  He stated that after initial touchdown, the airplane bounced into the air two more times.  He stated on the third touchdown, the nose wheel "...buckled and [the airplane's] front end plowed into [the] ground."

The pilot reported,  "I jumped from [the] cockpit [and] felt very strong wind on my back - wind sock standing straight out...Wind gusting very hard...."

The pilot reported the grass strip was dry and in "excellent" condition.  He also reported that there were no airplane mechanical malfunctions prior to the accident.

The pilot wrote that, in hindsight, "At 1st contact I should have throttled up and went around."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N99248 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1871
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Evans, Robert L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MIV, MILLVILLE MUNI, NJ
- Destination: 00N
- Airport: 00N, Bucks, runway 18, 1,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 64 total, 50 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 55 °F

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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