# NTSB SEA03LA135: Ercoupe 415-D, N2545H, Arlington, WA, July 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2003, 09:40 local (16:40 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.160831, -122.160278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1608&lon=-122.1603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57460 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57460/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper approach speed and landing touch down point resulting in a runway overrun. A factor was the tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - go-around - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - grass ## Analysis The pilot reduced the power to idle and was over the threshold of the grass runway (34) about 10 miles per hour faster the he liked. After touching and realizing that he had used up too much runway, he decided to go around, but his speed was too slow to takeoff. Deciding to steer for clear ground and hope for the best, the airplane went up over the bordering taxiway which was perpendicular to the runway, down the other side, bounced and flipped over. At 0955, the weather observation facility located at the airport reported wind 180 degrees at 7 knots. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2003, approximately 0940 Pacific daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-D single-engine airplane, N2545H, was substantially damaged following an overrun during the landing roll at the Arlington Municipal Airport (AWO), Arlington, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and his passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight which departed the Arlington Municipal Airport at 0815. Consistent with on scene observations by the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), and according to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted to the IIC by the pilot, the airport in use on the day of the accident was the site of an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Flyin. In addition to runway 34 as being the active runway in use, a grass strip approximately 1,500 feet long and 200 feet wide, lying parallel to and east of runway 34, was being used to simultaneously accommodate the increase in air traffic. It was also noted by the IIC, and reported by the pilot, that a taxiway bordered and ran perpendicular to the grass strip on the north. The pilot reported that after being cleared to land he entered a right base leg for runway 34, but was then asked if he would "accept the grass." Seeing the long line of airplanes waiting [for runway 34], he decided to take the grass strip to help facilitate traffic taking off. The pilot stated that he "killed" [reduced] the power to idle and was over the threshold of the grass runway about 10 miles per hour faster the he liked. After touching down, he realized he had used up too much runway and decided to go around, but his speed was too slow to takeoff. The pilot related, "I had to decide if it was better to take off and risk a 'mush' back to the ground, or catch my wheels on the slope of the taxiway, or just steer for clear ground and hope for the best. I decided my chances to go around were all past, and so I headed up over the taxiway and down the other side. The airplane bounced a lot, and then headed down and flipped over on its back." The pilot further stated, "....my brakes did not seem to have any effect, as I felt like I was sliding on glass. I landed the evening before on this same grass strip without any problems." The pilot stated that he wasn't advised of the wind direction and speed before landing. A certificated airframe and power plant mechanic, who examined the airplane, reported the fuselage was buckled, and that both rudders, horizontal stabilizers and the firewall had sustained substantial damage. At 0955, the weather observation facility located at AWO reported wind 180 degrees at 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2545H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2545H-2006-02-21), registration cancelled 2006-02-21, S/N 3170, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415-D - Registry model: [Ercoupe 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/ercoupe-415-d) (registry code 0420326) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3170 - Airframe hours: 2513 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard H. Chawes - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2003, 6 hours before - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Municipal Airport, runway 34, 1,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 11, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 482 total, 2,420 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: AWO ## 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 20030712017809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030712017809A), Jul 12, 2003: Univar 415D, Arlington, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On Saturday, July 12, 2003, at approximately 0930 a aircraft N2545H ws cleared to land on grass runway 34 at Arlington Municipal Airport, Arlington,… 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.