- Date
- June 29, 2000, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place
- Abbeville, LA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N3177HEngineering & Research Ercoupe 415-CD
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20000629007289A
- Case key
- 49885
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged flare and improper recovery from a bounced landing. A factor was the crosswind condition.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot was attempting to land on runway 15 prior to thunderstorms moving over the airport. The pilot reported that the wind was from the south-southwest at 10-15 knots, and gusting 20-25 knots. The pilot added that he had to use 'higher than normal approach speeds to maintain directional control.' The pilot added that he landed 'fast and hit hard.' The airplane bounced and departed the runway into the grass. The nose gear collapsed, damaging the firewall.
Factual narrative
On June 30, 2000, at 1840 central daylight time, an Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-CD airplane, N3177H, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during landing at the Abbeville Chris Crusta Memorial Airport near Abbeville, Louisiana. The private pilot, who was the owner and sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. 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 Abbeville Airport at 1830.
According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot reported that the wind was from the south-southwest at 10-15 knots, and gusting to 20-25 knots. The pilot added that the "aircraft had no rudder pedals to allow for sufficient crab for conditions," and he had to use "higher than normal approach speeds to maintain directional control." The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he was attempting to land on runway 15 prior to thunderstorms moving over the airport. The pilot added that he landed "fast and hit hard," and the airplane bounced and departed the runway into the grass. The nose landing gear collapsed, damaging the firewall.
The FAA reported the accident to the NTSB on August 3, 2000.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3177H
- Reported as
- Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-CD (ERCOUPE 41)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 3802
- Airframe hours
- 1,733
- Engine
- Continental O-320-G-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Frederick Martinez
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 6, 2000 · 7 hours before
- Departed
- 0R3 · Abbeville, LA
- Airport
- 0R3 · Abbeville Chris Crusta, runway 15, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 10, 2000
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,500 total · 325 in this make and model · 2,500 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 185° at 15 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 90 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.