Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C accident near Gastonia, North Carolina, February 9, 1991
On February 9, 1991 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C, registered N3353H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gastonia, North Carolina (Gastonia Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER FLARE AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE TO RECOVER FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1991 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Gastonia, North Carolina · Gastonia Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415C
- Registration
- N3353H · registry record · serial 148537
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD BEEN ON A LOCAL, PERSONAL FLIGHT. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED ON THE NORTHEAST RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER HE HAD MADE A SMOOTH TWO-POINT LANDING, A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE AIRPLANE AND DROPPED IT HARD ON THE RUNWAY. AN FAA INSPECTOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT STATED TO HIM THAT HE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, AND HIT AGAIN ON THE NOSE GEAR. THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY WAS 10 MILES EAST AND REPORTED THE WINDS AS 290 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS, WHICH RESULTED IN A 13-KNOT CROSSWIND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,304 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 3, 1991; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C75-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 3,506 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from CLT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.