Ercoupe 415-C accident near Parsons, Kansas, August 26, 2000
On August 26, 2000 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-C, registered N93990, was substantially damaged in an accident near Parsons, Kansas (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot not maintaining clearance from the fence post and not attaining the proper touchdown point. A factor was the fence post.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2000 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Parsons, Kansas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-C · all 415-Cs on the register
- Registration
- N93990 · no longer on the register · serial 1313
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a fence post and terrain while landing. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The pilot said, "We turned final and picked my spot for touch down, I.A.S. was 80 m.p.h., final was looking good-lined up on strip good just ahead of runway the airplane just sunk. We had passed over a gravel road about 20' ahead of the strip, but don't really know if that is what effected the plane. We hit the tallest gate post, which is approx. 10 feet from end of runway. The airplane hit the ground and did a 180[degree] turn." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction. The pilot listed substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, main gear, nose gear, nose bowl, and propeller.
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: 178 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,802 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 8, 2000; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNU Chanute KS at 12:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 171°F (77°C), dew point 147°F (64°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from CNU, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.