On November 16, 1986, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (registration N93523) was involved in an aviation accident near Stormville, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in a stall and impact with terrain short of the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft descended below the visual glidepath half a mile from touchdown. Despite an attempt to recover with added power, the plane crashed into a field short of the runway.
What happened
During the final phase of the landing approach, approximately one-half mile from the point of intended touchdown, the pilot reported that the aircraft descended below the established visual glidepath. Recognizing the deviation, the pilot attempted to recover by applying additional power.
Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude and impacted a field located short of the runway. Upon striking the ground, the aircraft rolled and subsequently struck a roadway situated at the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce back onto the airport grounds, coming to rest in a left wing-low attitude.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the descent below the glidepath and the subsequent recovery attempt. Examination of the event revealed that the initial deviation from the visual path was not corrected sufficiently before reaching the runway threshold area.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in a stall and impact with terrain short of the runway.