Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C accident near Bristol, Wisconsin, July 18, 1999
On July 18, 1999 at about 1:15 am local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-C, registered N2980H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bristol, Wisconsin (Winfield 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 failure to perform a proper recovery from the bounced landing, resulting in the airplane's nose gear striking the runway. A factor relating to the accident was the excessive airspeed maintained during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 1999 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Bristol, Wisconsin · Winfield 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.) 415-C
- Registration
- N2980H · registry record · serial 3605
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that he made an approach into the airstrip after clearing a high tension [power] line by approximately 200 feet. The airplane's speed was approximately 70 miles per hour (mph). The airplane descended to the runway, touching down between 65 to 70 mph. The pilot said he bounced and floated before touching down again. 'I started to roll out, and crested a small hill [on the runway] with a dip on the other side of it.' The airplane became airborne again, began to settle, and then struck the nose gear. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: 239 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 24, 1999; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,265 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI58
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 am from ENW, 2 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.