No fatalities

19 Feb 2009: Ercoupe 415-E — Camas, WA

Camas, WA, United States

On 19 Feb 2009, an Ercoupe 415-E was involved in an aviation accident near Camas, WA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's misjudged landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. This summary draws on records from NTSB.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A student pilot practicing landings flared too high, leading to a hard landing and bounce. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall. No mechanical issues were reported.

Incident Overview

According to a written statement from the student pilot, the flight was conducted with the purpose of practicing landings. While maneuvering on a normal traffic pattern to the runway, the pilot observed that the airplane was higher and faster than he was accustomed to. The pilot recalled flaring too high, which resulted in a hard landing. Following the initial touchdown, the airplane bounced and subsequently landed hard again.

Damage Assessment

The impact from the hard landings caused damage to the airplane's firewall. The pilot noted in the report that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with either the airframe or the engine.

Pilot's Recommendations

In the recommendation section of the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report (Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented had he flown again with his instructor.

Reporting Details

The student pilot submitted a written statement and completed the NTSB Pilot/Operator Report to document the event.

Contributing factors

Descent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintainedIncorrect use/operationPilot