# NTSB FTW00LA129: Ercoupe 415-D, N99470, Lindsay, TX, April 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 20, 2000, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Lindsay, TX - Coordinates: 33.630203, -97.209838 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6302&lon=-97.2098&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49008/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA129 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. A factor was the downdraft wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis During an approach to the runway, the student pilot allowed the airplane to descend and impact the top of an embankment and a fence located prior to the runway. According to the pilot, the airplane had encountered a downdraft. At 1053, the reported wind at the nearest reporting point, located 24 nautical miles south of the accident site, was from 310 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19 knots. According to an FAA inspector, the student pilot 'was not and had never been endorsed by an authorized flight instructor for solo flight.' Prior to the accident, the student pilot had accumulated 14 total flight hours, of which 11 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 20, 2000, at 1045 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-D single-engine airplane, N99470, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an approach to Freedom Field Airport near Lindsay, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Freedom Field Airport, approximately 1000. The student pilot reported that while attempting to land on runway 35, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The airplane descended and impacted the top of an embankment and struck a fence located prior to the runway. At 1053, the reported wind at the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas, located 24 nautical miles south of the accident site, was from 310 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19 knots. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was folded aft, the engine mount was fractured, and the firewall and wing spar were structurally damaged. According to the FAA inspector, the student pilot "was not and had never been endorsed by an authorized flight instructor for solo flight." Prior to the accident, the student pilot had accumulated 14 total flight hours, of which 11 hours were in the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99470](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N99470-2003-04-09), registration cancelled 2003-04-09, S/N 2093, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-D - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-d) (registry code 0420326) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2093 - Airframe hours: 1716 - Engines: Continental C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roger Dale Brown - Registered owner: Michael D. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 27, 1999, 33 hours before - Departed: TA22 - Airport: TA22, Freedom Field Airport, runway 35, 2,400 × 60 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14 total, 11 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 15 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 24 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 20000420005139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000420005139A), Apr 20, 2000: Lindsay, TX, No damage. (-23) On April 20, 2000, at 1045 CDT, an Ercoupe 415-D single-engine airplane, N99470, was substantially damaged during an approach to the freedom field… 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.