Engineering & Research ERCOUPE 415-C N99577 accident near Ontario, Oregon

Probable cause

The non-certificated pilot’s unstable approach to landing, which resulted in a collision with approach lighting, hard landing, and postimpact fire.

NTSB analysis

The accident flight was the non-certificated pilot's first flight in the airplane, which the pilot had recently purchased and taken possession of on the day of the accident. The airplane was on a steep approach as the pilot attempted to land and hit an approach light short of the runway threshold. The airplane then bounced and struck another set of lights before landing hard on the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest on the runway and a postimpact fire ensued. A witness who arrived at the scene of the accident stated that the pilot told him that he had misjudged the landing.

A witness reported that the pilot conducted a steep approach to land, consistent with an unstable approach. The airplane was not available for examination following the accident, and whether a mechanical anomaly contributed to the accident could not be determined. The investigation was unable to determine the extent of the non-certificated pilot’s previous flight experience or whether the pilot had received any formal or informal flight instruction.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA158 for the full record.