# NTSB NYC87LA177: Ercoupe 415-C, N94383, Quakertown, PA, June 13, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 13, 1987, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Quakertown, PA
- Coordinates: 40.430255, -75.33937 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4303&lon=-75.3394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30674
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87LA177
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30674/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87LA177

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - planned approach - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PILOT CAME IN HIGH AND FAST ON THE APPROACH. HE REDUCED PWR INITIALLY TO INCREASE RATE OF DESCENT. AS HE APCHED TREES, HE APPLIED POWER TO STOP THE DESCENT, BUT COLLIDED WITH THE TOPS OF THE TREES. THE ACFT YAWED TO THE RIGHT ABOUT 30 DEGREES AND TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94383](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94383-1991-03-14), registration cancelled 1991-03-14, S/N 1606 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1606
- Airframe hours: 1516
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-75-12 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Burchfield
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 22, 1985, 11 hours before
- Airport: UKT, Quakertown, runway 29, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 792 total, 9 in this make and model, 554 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F

## 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 19870613022359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870613022359A), Jun 13, 1987: Univar 415C, Quakertown, PA, Substantial damage. Struck trees on final and crash landed short of runway. Blamed a downdraft but wind was calm.

## Other investigations on N94383 (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 NYC66F0486](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC66F0486), Jan 22, 1966: Ercoupe 415-C (N94383), New City, NY, 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.

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