N99470

On April 20, 2000, at 1045 central daylight time, an Ercoupe 415-D single-engine airplane, N99470, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during an approach to Freedom Field Airport near Lindsay, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The student pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight originated from the Freedom Field Airport, approximately 1000.

The student pilot reported that while attempting to land on runway 35, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The airplane descended and impacted the top of an embankment and struck a fence located prior to the runway.

At 1053, the reported wind at the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas, located 24 nautical miles south of the accident site, was from 310 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 19 knots.

Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the nose landing gear was folded aft, the engine mount was fractured, and the firewall and wing spar were structurally damaged.

According to the FAA inspector, the student pilot "was not and had never been endorsed by an authorized flight instructor for solo flight." Prior to the accident, the student pilot had accumulated 14 total flight hours, of which 11 hours were in the accident airplane.