Ercoupe 415
Lafayette, IN — June 7, 2019
Event Information
| Date | June 7, 2019 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | GAA19CA329 |
| Event ID | 20190607X80852 |
| Location | Lafayette, IN |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 40.41222, -86.93694 |
| Airport | Purdue University |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Ercoupe |
| Model | 415 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Probable Cause
The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.
Full Narrative
The flight instructor reported that he was going to demonstrate a simulated engine failure on takeoff for a student pilot. After climbing several hundred feet, he reduced the engine power to idle and pitched the airplane to maintain best glide speed. He applied back pressure to the yoke during the landing flare and realized they were going to land harder than desired. The airplane touched down hard on the runway.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings.
The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.