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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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August 11, 1995 · Aero Commander 100-180 · N4066X

Ocracoke, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 1995
Injury Outcomes
4 injuries (1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries)
Location
Ocracoke, NC
Aircraft
Aero Commander 100-180
Tail Number
N4066X
Operator
Pelican Airways
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL95LA152

While in cruise flight over marshy terrain, the center portion of the aircraft's windshield imploded, forcing open the cabin door. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and could not glide to dry land, therefore he elected to force land in the salt marsh. During the landing roll, the aircraft nosed over. According to the passengers, when they boarded the airplane they noted that the windscreen was cracked. However, the crack was adjacent to a door post, not the center of the windscreen. Initially, the pilot believed that the airplane had been struck by a bird. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any evidence of a bird strike. A similar windscreen implosion occurrence, involving the same make and model airplane, was located in the FAA's Service Difficulty Reports. The report stated that during level flight the upper half of the windshield broke away, first inward, then the pilot pushed it outward. Aircraft control was affected, and a forced landing was accomplished, without causing substantial damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

A SHATTERED WINDSHIELD WHICH PRECLUDED MAINTAINING LEVEL FLIGHT DUE TO INCREASED AERODYNAMIC DRAG.

Full Narrative

On August 11, 1995, at 1610 eastern daylight time, an Aero Commander 100-180, N4066X, nosed over in a marsh during an emergency landing eight miles southwest of Mitchell Field on Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. The on-demand air taxi flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135, with a visual flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The commercial pilot and two passengers received minor injuries; the third passenger received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The revenue flight departed Greenville, North Carolina, at 1500 hours. The pilot reported that about eight miles southwest of the destination airport, the center portion of the pilot's windshield separated from the airplane, spraying glass into the cockpit,and forcing open the right door. He was unable to maintain altitude, and initiated a forced landing to the marshy terrain that was below the flight path. The airplane touched down in the marsh, and nosed over. Two of the passengers stated that prior to enplaning the aircraft, they noticed what appeared to be a crack in the windshield adjacent to the door post. The FAA inspector's report stated that there no indication of a bird strike was found,(ie. no feathers, blood or entrails in the windshield cavity, cockpit area, or glare shield), and that the crack in the windshield was insignificant in regards to the imploded windscreen. Service Difficulty Report Data were obtained from the FAA. One other occurrence of a windshield implosion was found in the data. It reported that during level flight the upper half of the windshield broke away, first inward, then the pilot pushed the windshield outward. Aircraft control was affected, according to the report, and the pilot made an unscheduled landing.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:10 EDT
Nearest AirportBilly Mitchel (8nm SSW)
Runway6
Runway Length3000 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander 100-180
Tail NumberN4066X
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorPelican Airways
Operating RulePart 135
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A2F · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary4 injuries (1 serious injury, 3 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total4
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind40° @ 15 kt, gusting 21 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time20:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data