Summary
On April 07, 1997, a Aero Commander 100 (N87770) was involved in an incident near Knights Landing, CA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing.
On April 7, 1997, at 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander 100, N87770, was substantially damaged during landing at a private airstrip 1 mile north of Knights Landing, California. The aircraft was being operated by the owner/pilot and he was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Concord, California, at 1050.
The pilot was landing for the first time at a 1,500-foot-long duster strip. He departed from a 4,400-foot-long runway at his home base, and stated that because of the shortness of the runway and the potential for automobile cross traffic at the other end, he attempted a short field landing.
This incident is documented in NTSB report LAX97LA144. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N87770.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On April 7, 1997, at 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander 100, N87770, was substantially damaged during landing at a private airstrip 1 mile north of Knights Landing, California. The aircraft was being operated by the owner/pilot and he was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal cross-country flight and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Concord, California, at 1050.
The pilot was landing for the first time at a 1,500-foot-long duster strip. He departed from a 4,400-foot-long runway at his home base, and stated that because of the shortness of the runway and the potential for automobile cross traffic at the other end, he attempted a short field landing. However, the approach end of the runway had a dirt berm across it and it was hard to judge the height. As he approached the berm he added power to clear it, but the airplane stalled about 6 to 7 feet agl and landed hard. The airplane bounced and turned left colliding with a metal storage shed. The pilot reported the winds were calm at the time of the landing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# LAX97LA144