Ercoupe 415-C N87351

Summary

On 3 September 2000 at about 01:00 local time, a Ercoupe 415-C registered N87351 was involved in an accident near Wapato, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2000 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Wapato, Washington, United States

Coordinates

46.4498, -120.5091

Aircraft

Ercoupe 415-C

Registration

N87351

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sunnyside → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA00LA175

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees off the approach end of the runway, and his delay of the remedial action that would have allowed him to clear the trees. Factors include the pilot's failure to maintain a proper glidepath, trees off the approach end of the runway, and a downdraft in the vicinity of the approach path.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While on approach to the private airstrip, the pilot inadvertently allowed the aircraft to descend to a lower than normal altitude. When he was about 50 feet from the end of the runway, he realized that he needed to climb in order to clear the trees just off the approach end. Although he added power, he did not do so in time to climb above the treetops. Therefore the aircraft collided with the trees and tumbled into the terrain. The pilot also thought that he may have encountered a downdraft at about the same time as he added power for the climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.