# NTSB CEN13CA510: Ercoupe 415-C, N99094, Mackinac Island, MI, August 10, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2013, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Mackinac Island, MI - Coordinates: 45.865001, -84.637222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8650&lon=-84.6372&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87875 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA510 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87875/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87875 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA510 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while on final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the cross-country flight was uneventful until the final approach portion of the landing to runway 27. She reported that the final approach was flown at the normal airspeed for the airplane. She said that the next thing she knew was that the airplane was on its nose and the left wing scraped the runway. The airplane then righted itself and skidded off the left side of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the wind was from the west and that local pilots reported to her that wind from the west can create a swirl as it moves up the runway. The reported wind about the time of the accident was from 240 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the cross-country flight was uneventful until the final approach portion of the landing to runway 27. She reported that the final approach was flown at the normal airspeed for the airplane. She said that the next thing she knew was that the airplane was on its nose and the left wing scraped the runway. The airplane then righted itself and skidded off the left side of the runway. The airplane incurred damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that the winds were from the west and that local pilots reported to her that winds from the west can create a swirl as it moves up the runway. The reported winds about the time of the accident were from 240 degrees at 11 knots, gusting to 16 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99094](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99094-2013-11-13), registration cancelled 2013-11-13, S/N 1717, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415-C - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1717 - Airframe hours: 2356 - Engines: CONT MOTOR 75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2012 - Departed: ESC, Escanaba, MI - Destination: MCD, Mackinac Island, MI - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MCD, Mackinac Island Airport, runway 26, 3,501 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 29, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 75 in this make and model, 275 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 11 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MCD ## 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 20130810015139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130810015139A), Aug 10, 2013: Ercoupe 415-C, Mackinac Island, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot approached rwy 26 slow, landed hard, nosed-over and rolled-up on wing. Came to rest in grass on right side of runway. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87875. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40399781&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.