# NTSB FTW97LA266: Ercoupe Ercoupe 415-C, N99739, Huntsville, TX, July 7, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1997, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Huntsville, TX - Coordinates: 30.71071, -95.540985 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.7107&lon=-95.5410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 7, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA266 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA266 ## Probable cause Inadvertent stall due to the student pilot's failure to maintain airspeed and a proper descent rate. A factor was the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - airspeed(vref) - not maintained, dual student (cause) - proper descent rate - not maintained, dual student (cause) - stall - inadvertent, dual student (cause) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the final approach to the runway, the student pilot allowed the airspeed to become slow and corrected for the airspeed loss by adding power. Subsequently, the airplane hit the ground hard when the student reduced the power, pulled the nose up, and stalled the airplane at 10 ft AGL. The flight instructor did not execute corrective action. ## Factual narrative On July 7, 1997, at 1000 central daylight time, an Engineering & Research Ercoupe 415-C airplane, N99739, was substantially damaged while landing at Huntsville Municipal Airport near Huntsville, Texas. The student pilot and the commercial pilot/flight instructor were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the instructional cross country flight from Huntsville Municipal Airport (T39) to Palestine Municipal Airport (PSN), Palestine, Texas. The student pilot reported filing a VFR flight plan. In a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), and on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the flight instructor reported that they were departing on a cross country flight to Palestine and elected to return due to deteriorating weather conditions. The cloud bases were 1,500 feet AGL. During the final approach to runway 18, the student pilot allowed the airspeed to become slow and corrected for the airspeed loss by adding power. The airplane hit the ground after the student "pulled power, pulled [the] nose up [and the airplane] stalled at approx[imately] 10 f[ee]t AGL" The instructor stated that before he could execute corrective action, the airplane landed hard on the runway. In a telephone interview, conducted by the IIC, and on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the student pilot reported everything appeared "normal" during the approach to runway 18 at an approach speed between 60 and 70 mph. During the landing flare, the airspeed "must have dropped below 60 MPH, and my guess is that it stalled at approx[imately] 10-15 feet above [the] runway." The airplane appeared to "drop like a rock" and landed hard. The flight instructor reported structural damage to the nose landing gear that was bent forward. The student pilot reported that 4 engine mounts were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99739](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99739), registered now, S/N 2362 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) ERCOUPE 415-C (ERCOUPE 41) - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-C](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-c) (registry code 0420322) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2362 - Airframe hours: 2311 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ralph Wooderson & S. B. Bailey - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 1997, 50 hours before - Departed: UTS - Destination: UTS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: UTS, Huntsville Municipal, runway 18, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 670 total, 5 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: UTS ## 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 19970707018409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970707018409A), Jul 7, 1997: Univar 415C, Huntsville, TX, Substantial damage. Stalled on short final. Dropped l ike a rock onto runway. CFI failed to act to prevent a stall. (.4) during the final approach to the runway, the student pilot… ## Other investigations on N99739 (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 NYC70D0047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC70D0047), Jun 29, 1969: Erco 415-C (N99739), Bradford, PA, 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.