Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415E accident near Manvel, North Dakota, May 29, 2003
On May 29, 2003 at about 1:45 am local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415E, registered N94779, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manvel, North Dakota (Heyde 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 inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. A factor contributing to the accident was the collapse of the nose landing gear strut.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2003 · about 1:45 am local time
- Place
- Manvel, North Dakota · Heyde Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415E
- Registration
- N94779 · registry record · serial 4890
- 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 when its nose gear collapsed following a hard landing. The pilot reported the airplane touched down very hard and bounced. The pilot attempted to land the airplane, but the left wingtip and the nose landing gear impacted the terrain first. The nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded to a stop.
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: 91 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 62 as pilot in command; 29 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,661 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 2002; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90-14F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8ND4 Manvel ND at 1:15 am
- Destination: 8ND4 Manvel ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from KGFK, 7 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.