Heyde Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Manvel, North Dakota 58256
Wednesday, May 28, 2003 20:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

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.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/28/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2045
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Manvel
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58256
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 480425N
Event Location Longitude 0971110W
Event Location Airport Heyde Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 8ND4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 820
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KGFK
Elevation of weather observation facility 845
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) 1198
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14195
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 29 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 102
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA Fargo, North Dakota - FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94779
NTSB Number CHI03LA139
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.)
Aircraft Model 415E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4890
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 10 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 1661
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dean W Woidtke
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1726 South 35th Street
Aircraft Owner City Grand Forks
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58201
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 8ND4
Departure City Manvel
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 2015
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 8ND4
Destination City Manvel
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - roll
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Aug 25 2003 10:59AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 35
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --