# NTSB CHI00LA273: Ercoupe 415-C, N93990, Parsons, KS, August 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2000, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Parsons, KS - Coordinates: 37.329433, -95.259666 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3294&lon=-95.2597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50109 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50109/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA273 ## Probable cause the pilot not maintaining clearance from the fence post and not attaining the proper touchdown point. A factor was the fence post. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, landing - object - fence post (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a fence post and terrain while landing. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot said, "We turned final and picked my spot for touch down, I.A.S. was 80 m.p.h., final was looking good-lined up on strip good just ahead of runway the airplane just sunk. We had passed over a gravel road about 20' ahead of the strip, but don't really know if that is what effected the plane. We hit the tallest gate post, which is approx. 10 feet from end of runway. The airplane hit the ground and did a 180[degree] turn." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction. The pilot listed substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, main gear, nose gear, nose bowl, and propeller. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2000, about 0730 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-C, N93990, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with a fence post and terrain while landing at a private airstrip near Parsons, Kansas. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from Chanute Martin Johnson Airport, near Chanute, Kansas at 0715 and was landing at the time of the accident. The pilot said, "We turned final and picked my spot for touch down, I.A.S. was 80 m.p.h., final was looking good-lined up on strip good just ahead of runway the airplane just sunk. We had passed over a gravel road about 20' ahead of the strip, but don't really know if that is what effected the plane. We hit the tallest gate post, which is approx. 10 feet from end of runway. The airplane hit the ground and did a 180[degree] turn." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction. The pilot listed substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, main gear, nose gear, nose bowl, and propeller. The pilot's safety recommendation was to "avoid short strips from now on except in emergency situation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N93990](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N93990-2013-03-20), registration cancelled 2013-03-20, S/N 1313, 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: 1313 - Airframe hours: 1802 - Engines: Continental C85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 8, 2000, 12 hours before - Departed: CNU, CHANUTE, KS - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 178 total, 9 in this make and model, 118 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 171 °F, dew point 147 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CNU, 27 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 20000826007839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000826007839A), Aug 26, 2000: Univar 415C, KS, No damage. (-23) A/c was approaching a short grass strip. It struck a metal post just before touchdown. Pilot felt that they had suddenly started sinking just prior to… 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.