# NTSB CHI99LA242: Ercoupe 415-C, N2980H, Bristol, WI, July 18, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 1999, 20:15 local (Jul 18, 1999, 01:15 UTC) - Place: Bristol, WI - Coordinates: 42.539356, -88.020782 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5394&lon=-88.0208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA242 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46824/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA242 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to perform a proper recovery from the bounced landing, resulting in the airplane's nose gear striking the runway. A factor relating to the accident was the excessive airspeed maintained during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - recovery from bounced landing - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he made an approach into the airstrip after clearing a high tension [power] line by approximately 200 feet. The airplane's speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (mph). The airplane descended to the runway, touching down between 65 to 70 mph. The pilot said he bounced and floated before touching down again. 'I started to roll out, and crested a small hill [on the runway] with a dip on the other side of it.' The airplane became airborne again, began to settle, and then struck the nose gear. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 1999, at 2015 central daylight time (cdt), an Ercoupe 415-C, N2980H, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when on landing, the airplane bounced and subsequently impacted on to a grass runway at the Winfield Airport, Bristol, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight originated at Bristol, Wisconsin, at 1940 cdt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he came into the airstrip after clearing a high tension [power] line by approximately 200 feet. The airplane's speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (mph). The airplane descended to the runway, touching down between 65 to 70 mph. The pilot said he bounced and floated before touching down again. "I started to roll out, and crested a small hill [on the runway] with a dip on the other side of it." The airplane became airborne again, began to settle, and then struck the nose gear. An FAA inspector examined the airplane at the airstrip. The airplane's nose gear was buckled aft. The engine mounts were twisted and broken. The lower firewall was bent back. The skin around the lower cowling and forward fuselage was buckled and cracked. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2980H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2980H), registered now, S/N 3605, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 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: 3605 - Airframe hours: 2523 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Fred Rodney Ekornaas - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 24, 1999, 25 hours before - Departed: WI58 - Airport: Winfield Airport, runway 36, 2,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 239 total, 25 in this make and model, 165 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ENW, 2 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 19990717009279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990717009279A), Jul 17, 1999: Univar 415C, Bristol, WI, Substantial damage. (.19)On July 17, 1999, at 2015 central daylight time (CDT), an Ercoupe 415-C, N2980H, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when on… ## Other investigations on N2980H (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI66F0419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0419), Oct 26, 1965: Ercoupe 415C (N2980H), Three Oaks, MI, substantial damage 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.