# NTSB ERA12CA111: Ercoupe 415-C, N99576, Panacea, FL, December 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 16, 2011, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Panacea, FL - Coordinates: 29.989444, -84.390556 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9894&lon=-84.3906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82533/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82533 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA111 ## Probable cause The pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point during landing, which resulted in a runway overrun. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [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-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Ercoupe 415-C, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0420322), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern at 80 mph. During the landing roll on the 2,590-foot, turf runway, the pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway, impacted a fence, and came to rest in a nose-low position, sustaining substantial damage to the wing spars. Examination of the wreckage, which included an operational check of the wheel braking system, revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. According to the Ercoupe Instruction Manual, the recommended landing approach airspeed was "between 60 and 70 mph." The instruction manual also indicated that landing the airplane at a higher airspeed and applying the brakes "will require decidedly less overall distance than it would if the airplane were held off the ground until minimum speed had been reached." A published landing distance table for the airplane indicated that, with an approach speed of 75 mph, the landing distance over a 50-foot obstruction on a paved runway would be about 1,800 feet. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern at 80 mph and landed on the 2,590-foot, turf runway. During the rollout, the pilot applied the brakes, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway, impacted a fence, and came to rest in a nose low position. During the accident sequence, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spars. A subsequent examination of the wreckage revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. According to the Ercoupe Instruction Manual, the landing approach airspeed should be "between 60 and 70 mph." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99576](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99576-2012-01-31), registration cancelled 2012-01-31, S/N 2199, 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: 2199 - Airframe hours: 3303 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A&C75 SERIES 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Loumakis Kyriakos J - Registered owner: Loumakis Kyriakos J - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2010 - Departed: PDK, Chamblee, GA - Destination: 2J0, Panacea, FL - Airport: 2J0, Wakulla County Airport, runway 18, 2,590 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 2,119 total, 284 in this make and model, 2,119 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: TLH, 25 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 20111216027939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111216027939A), Dec 16, 2011: Ercoupe 415-C, Panacea, FL, Substantial damage. Upon landing on grass landing strip pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before departing runway resulting in aircraft running through a fence and resulting… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 27, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82533. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360393&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Mechanic Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360394&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Interview%20Summary-Redacted.PDF - Excerpt from Ercoupe 415-C Instruction Manual (item 3, .PDF, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Ercoupe%20415-C%20Instruction%20Manual-Master.PDF - Ercoupe Landing Data (item 4, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ercoupe%20Landing%20Data-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Airplane Damage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361554&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Airplane%20Damage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.