Grove Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Camas, Washington 98607
Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:30 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The purpose of the flight was for the student pilot to practice landings. While maneuvering on a normal traffic pattern to the runway, he noted that the airplane was higher and faster than he was accustomed to. The pilot recalled that he flared too high resulting in the airplane landing hard. Following the touchdown, the airplane bounced and landed hard again. The airplane sustained damage to the firewall. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's misjudged landing flare and inadequate recovery from a bounced landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Camas
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98607
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 453740N
Event Location Longitude 1222415W
Event Location Airport Grove Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1W1
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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) 25282
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2009 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N94805
NTSB Number WPR09CA126
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ercoupe
Aircraft Model 415-E
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 4918
Certified Max Gross Weight 1400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Dec 10 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 2307
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name Paul Martin
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Ridgefield
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Paul Martin
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Ridgefield
Operator State WA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1W1
Departure City Camas
Departure State WA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 1W1
Destination City Camas
Destination State WA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 25 2009 4:37PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25
Runway Length 2710
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --