On July 18, 1999, an Ercoupe (eng & Research Corp.) 415-C (registration N2980H) was involved in an aviation accident near Bristol, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to perform a proper recovery from the bounced landing, resulting in the airplane's nose gear striking the runway. A factor relating to the accident was the excessive airspeed maintained during the landing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
The pilot reported bouncing and floating during landing, then after rolling out, crested a hill, became airborne again, and struck the nose gear. No anomalies were found.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he made an approach into the airstrip after clearing a high tension power line by approximately 200 feet. The airplane's speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (mph). The airplane descended to the runway, touching down between 65 to 70 mph. The pilot reported that he bounced and floated before touching down again.
Sequence of Events
After the second touchdown, the pilot began to roll out. He said, 'I started to roll out, and crested a small hill [on the runway] with a dip on the other side of it.' The airplane became airborne again, began to settle, and then struck the nose gear.
Aircraft Examination
Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.