# NTSB CEN16CA317: Ercoupe 415, N3884H, Eminence, IN, August 9, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 9, 2016, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Eminence, IN - Coordinates: 39.573612, -86.618057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5736&lon=-86.6181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 22, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16CA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16CA317 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a proper glide path during the landing approach and his failure to use available engine power to arrest the descent, resulting in an undershoot and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-CD, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0420324), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-CD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=0420324), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-CD, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0420324), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-CD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=0420324), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private rated pilot reported that he flew a normal traffic pattern to the grass strip airport. During the final landing approach, he was lined up with the runway but a little bit low for the approach. He stated that he knew he was low and for an unknown reason he did not advance the throttle to arrest the airplane's descent. This resulted in the airplane's landing gear contacting the bean field. When the gear contacted the beans, the airplane nosed down into the ground and was damaged. The airplane came to rest on the end of the grass runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot was not injured. When asked if he experienced any mechanical difficulties with the airplane, he responded that there were none and that the airplane was operating perfectly. Based on this information the pilot failed to maintain a proper glide path during the landing approach and then failed to use available engine power to arrest the descent, resulting in an undershoot and collision with terrain. ## Factual narrative The private rated pilot reported that he flew a normal traffic pattern to the grass strip airport. During the final landing approach, he was lined up with the runway but a little bit low for the approach. He stated that he knew he was low and for an unknown reason he did not advance the throttle to arrest the airplane's descent. This resulted in the airplane's landing gear contacting the bean field. When the gear contacted the beans, the airplane nosed down into the ground and was damaged. The airplane came to rest on the end of the grass runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage. The pilot was not injured. When asked if he experienced any mechanical difficulties with the airplane, he responded that there were none and that the airplane was operating perfectly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3884H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3884H-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 4585 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ERCOUPE 415 (CD) - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-CD](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-cd) (registry code 0420324) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4585 - Year built: 1956 - Engines: Continental C85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 16, 2015, 1,820 hours before - Departed: 2R2, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Destination: II09, Stilesville, IN - Airport: II09, Patrum Field, runway 24, 2,400 × 60 ft - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 4, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 584 total, 135 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: IND, 18 nm away ## 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 20160809007249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160809007249A), Aug 9, 2016: Ercoupe 415-CD, Stilesville, IN, Substantial damage. On August 9, 2016, at approximately 1900 eastern daylight time (2300 UTC), an Ercoupe model 415CD, N3884H, registered and flown by [privacy data omitted] of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93812. 622 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-Master.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.