Pilot Debrief

Ercoupe 415 near Lafayette, IN — 2019-06-07

Final reportGAA19CA329
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Date
2019-06-07
Location
Lafayette, IN, USA
Airport
LAF
Aircraft
Ercoupe 415
Registration
N3667H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The flight instructor's failure to maintain pitch control and his improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

NTSB narrative

The flight instructor reported that he was going to demonstrate a simulated engine failure on takeoff for the student pilot. After climbing the airplane 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 the airplane was going to land harder than desired. The airplane landed hard on the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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