Probable cause
The pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point and his failure to abort the landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot touched down beyond his point of intended landing and bounced. He added power, regained level flight, reduced power, and landed again. As he applied the brakes, he realized that the landing roll would exceed the amount of runway remaining available. He turned hard right to avoid a fence and a ditch. However, the left wing contacted the ground, and sustained substantial damage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR09CA110 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Feb 4, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Whitehall, Montana
- Nearest airport
- Whitehall (MT41)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Ercoupe 415D
- N-number
- N87349
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
Other records under this N-number
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.