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NTSB Report
July 14, 1987 · Aero Commander 500-B · N9391R
Mason City, IA
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 14, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mason City, IA
Aircraft
Aero Commander 500-B
Tail Number
N9391R
Operator
Miller Flying Servic
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
MKC87FA138
The airplane was in a normal appearing climb after takeoff when it pitched up to a 70 to 80 degree attitude, stalled, dropped the right wing, then leveled the wings and hit the ground in a near-flat attitude. The weight and CG were within limits. No preimpact problems were found that could cause an inadvertent pitchup. The pilot's only memory is that he couldn't get the control column far enough forward to stop the pitchup. The pilot's seat was found in the full forward position with the right locking pin in the locking hole and the left pin 1/4th of an inch forward of the front locking hole. There were no visible marks on either of the locking pins. Deep scratches were found on the sides of the rail where the seat attachments normally slide back and forth when the seat is adjusted. Exam of the outboard side recessed surface near the aft end disclosed what appeared to be a fresh scratch.
Full Narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A NORMAL APPEARING CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF WHEN IT PITCHED UP TO A 70 TO 80 DEGREE ATTITUDE, STALLED, DROPPED THE RIGHT WING, THEN LEVELED THE WINGS AND HIT THE GROUND IN A NEAR-FLAT ATTITUDE. THE WEIGHT AND CG WERE WITHIN LIMITS. NO PREIMPACT PROBLEMS WERE FOUND THAT COULD CAUSE AN INADVERTENT PITCHUP. PILOT'S ONLY MEMORY IS THAT HE COULDN'T GET THE CONTROL COLUMN FAR ENOUGH FORWARD TO STOP THE PITCHUP. THE PILOT'S SEAT WAS FOUND IN THE FULL FORWARD POSITION WITH THE RIGHT LOCKING PIN IN THE LOCKING HOLE AND THE LEFT PIN 1/4TH OF AN INCH FORWARD OF THE FRONT LOCKING HOLE. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE MARKS ON EITHER OF THE LOCKING PINS. DEEP SCRATCHES WERE FOUND ON THE SIDES OF THE RAIL WHERE THE SEAT ATTACHMENTS NORMALLY SLIDE BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE SEAT IS ADJUSTED. EXAM OF THE OUTBOARD SIDE RECESSED SURFACE NEAR THE AFT END DISCLOSED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A FRESH SCRATCH.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time20:17 CDT
Nearest AirportMason City Municipal (0nm N)
Runway30
Runway Length5500 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftAero Commander 500-B
Tail NumberN9391R
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorMiller Flying Servic
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · IO-540 · Reciprocating · 290
Seats2
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Second Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind300° @ 5 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 55
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time01:17
Weather SourceWFAC