Ercoupe 415-D accident near Arlington, Washington, July 12, 2003
On July 12, 2003 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Ercoupe 415-D, registered N2545H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper approach speed and landing touch down point resulting in a runway overrun. A factor was the tailwind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2003 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe 415-D · all 415-Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2545H · registry record · serial 3170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reduced the power to idle and was over the threshold of the grass runway (34) about 10 miles per hour faster the he liked. After touching and realizing that he had used up too much runway, he decided to go around, but his speed was too slow to takeoff. Deciding to steer for clear ground and hope for the best, the airplane went up over the bordering taxiway which was perpendicular to the runway, down the other side, bounced and flipped over. At 0955, the weather observation facility located at the airport reported wind 180 degrees at 7 knots.
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
- Flight time: 482 hours in all; 2,420 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,513 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2003; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 3:15 pm
- Destination: AWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,763 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from AWO
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA03LA135.