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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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October 6, 1992 · Aero Commander 680 · N4490

Headland, AL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 6, 1992
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Location
Headland, AL
Aircraft
Aero Commander 680
Tail Number
N4490
Operator
Benson William L
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL93FA004

According to the owner, he and the pilot had flown from Albany, Georgia to swap a Piper 28 for the Aero Commander 680. Prior to completing the trade, the previous owner reconstructed a set of aircraft maintenance logs which revealed the estimated total airframe time and engine serial numbers. The owner assumed that the airplane was airworthy. Since the pilot was not Aero Commander rated, they decided to taxi the airplane on the ramp and runway to gain some experience. While taxiing at a high rate of speed on runway 09, the owner reported that a gust of wind caught the airplane as the taxi speed approached 65 mph. The pilot lost control of the airplane as it became airborne. The airplane rotated to the right and the right wing struck the ground; the airplane cartwheeled to a stop facing the opposite direction. The wreckage examination failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction. Reportedly, the pilot completed a preflight but the wreckage examination discovered a large bird's nest in the sump area of the left engine and a missing exhaust manifold. The pilot was not multiengine rated.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE CONDUCTING A HIGH SPEED TAXI MANEUVER WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT FLIGHT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THE WIND GUST.

Full Narrative

ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, HE AND THE PILOT HAD FLOWN FROM ALBANY, GEORGIA TO SWAP A PIPER 28 FOR THE AERO COMMANDER 680. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TRADE, THE PREVIOUS OWNER RECONSTRUCTED A SET OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGS WHICH REVEALED THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME AND ENGINE SERIAL NUMBERS. THE OWNER ASSUMED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AIRWORTHY. SINCE THE PILOT WAS NOT AERO COMMANDER RATED, THEY DECIDED TO TAXI THE AIRPLANE ON THE RAMP AND RUNWAY TO GAIN SOME EXPERIENCE. WHILE TAXIING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON RUNWAY 09, THE OWNER REPORTED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE AS THE TAXI SPEED APPROACHED 65 MPH. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRPLANE ROTATED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND; THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED TO A STOP FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT BUT, THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCOVERED A LARGE BIRD'S NEST IN THE SUMP AREA OF THE LEFT ENGINE AND A MISSING EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE PILOT WAS NOT MULITIENGINE RATED.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:05 CDT
Nearest AirportHeadland Municipal (0nm N)
Runway9
Runway Length4200 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAero Commander 680
Tail NumberN4490
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorBenson William L
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · GSO-480-B1A6 · Reciprocating · 340
Seats5

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 fatality, 1 serious injury)
Fatal1
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind30° @ 10 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time15:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data