# Accident 19970407005259A: Aerocd 100, Knights Landing, CA, April 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 7, 1997, 11:30 local time
- Place: Knights Landing, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Level Off Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.8907° N, 121.8004° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8907&lon=-121.8004&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87770, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87770-1999-11-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 100 (registry code 0140202, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROCD 100
- Reported engine: LYC O320A2B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 213 total, 42 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX97LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970407005259A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

NARRATIVE: 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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX97LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA144), Apr 7, 1997: Aero Commander 100 (N87770), Knights Landing, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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