Aero Commander 100-180 accident near Auburn, NE
On October 5, 1997, an Aero Commander 100-180 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Auburn, NE. 3 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 5, 1997
- Place
- Auburn, NE
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100-180 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 3 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 40.380°N, 95.840°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08956
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 5, 1997, at 1220 central daylight time (cdt), an Aero Commander 100-180, N4028X, registered to Auburn Flying Services, Inc., of Auburn, Nebraska, was destroyed during a collision with a moving semi-tractor trailer and terrain, while on short final approach to runway 20 (1600' X 100' dry/sod) at Farington Field, Auburn, Nebraska. The commercial pilot sustained serious injury and the three passengers sustained fatal injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed Farington Field, Auburn, Nebraska at 1210 cdt. According to an eyewitness, the airport was sponsoring a pancake fly-in that morning of the accident. The pilot had been giving rides to people throughout the morning. The pilot flew a total of ten flights. He landed on runway 16 for seven of the flights, and landed on runway 20 for the two flights just prior to the accident. During the last approach to runway 20, the airplane collided with a semi-tractor trailer traveling west on highway 136, impacting the truck's sleeper compartment. The airplane's tail section was entangled in a backhoe the semi-tractor trailer was carrying on the trailer, while the rest of the airplane came to rest on the threshold of runway 20. A second eyewitness said, the "...plane made its approach, it was too low." According to a second eyewitness, he heard the noise of a semi-tractor trailer cresting the hill behind him on highway 136. He turned to look and saw N4028X on final approach to runw
Probable cause
the pilot misjudged distance/altitude to the runway, while on final approach to land, allowing the airplane to get too low and collide with a truck. A related factor was: the proximity of the truck (and highway) to the runway.
More accidents in NE
- Piper PA-32R-300, Oct 16, 1993
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- Cessna 210H, Jan 19, 1986
- Beech C35, Jun 17, 1984
Browse: Nebraska · Aero Commander aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
