Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey, March 31, 1995
On March 31, 1995 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N99248, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey (Bucks airport). It was an instructional 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 student pilot's inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor in the accident was the suddenly changing wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1995 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeton, New Jersey · Bucks
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C
- Registration
- N99248 · no longer on the register · serial 1871
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE LANDING AT ON AN UNCONTROLLED GRASS STRIP, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, AND BOUNCED TWICE. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL TOUCHDOWN, HE FELT THE AIRPLANE 'ACCELERATE.' THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE OVERFLEW THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE WIND SOCK PRIOR TO LANDING AND IT WAS INDICATING CALM WIND. HE STATED THAT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE WIND SOCK WAS STANDING 'STRAIGHT OUT.' HE STATED THAT THE WIND DIRECTION WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE AIRPLANE A TAILWIND DURING THE ACCIDENT LANDING. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO AIRPLANE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
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: student
- Flight time: 64 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,260 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIV Millville Muni NJ at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 00N
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.