# NTSB WPR09CA110: Ercoupe 415D, N87349, Whitehall, MT, February 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 4, 2009, 16:09 local (23:09 UTC) - Place: Whitehall, MT - Coordinates: 45.861946, -112.169723 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8619&lon=-112.1697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 73324 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA110 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73324/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA110 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and his failure to abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=0420316), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=0420316), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0420316), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0420316), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0420316), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot touched down beyond his point of intended landing and bounced. He added power, regained level flight, reduced power, and landed again. As he applied the brakes, he realized that the landing roll would exceed the amount of runway remaining available. He turned hard right to avoid a fence and a ditch. However, the left wing contacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot touched down beyond his point of intended landing and bounced. He added power, regained level flight, reduced power, and landed again. As he applied the brakes, he realized that the landing roll would exceed the amount of runway remaining available. He turned hard right to avoid a fence and a ditch. However, the left wing contacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N87349](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87349), registered now, S/N 522, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ercoupe 415D - Registry model: [Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-D](https://openairdocs.org/model/engineering-research-ercoupe-415-d) (registry code 0420316) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C75 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c75-series) (registry code 17005, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 522 - Airframe hours: 1250 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Michael Harrison - Registered owner: Michael Harrison - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 16, 2008 - Departed: BTM, Butte, MT - Destination: MT41, Whitehall, MT - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MT41, Whitehall, runway 29, 3,800 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 260 total, 217 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BTM, 18 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 20090204000729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090204000729A), Feb 4, 2009: Ercoup 415D, Whitehall, MT, Substantial damage. On February 5, 2009, at 1609 MST, a Ercoupe 415-D, N87349, registered to [privacy data omitted] ## Other investigations on N87349 (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 WPR10LA343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA343), Jul 9, 2010: Ercoupe 415 (N87349), Whitehall, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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.