20180302001379A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Aero Commander 100-180 · Dupont, TX · March 2, 2018

Date: March 2, 2018 · 16:45 local
Place: Dupont, TX
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N3733X
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN18LA113
Reported as: Aero Commander 100-180
Reported engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 166 total106 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N3733XRegistration cancelled Sep 4, 2021 · Aero Commander 100-180S/N 5041 · Built 1968 Airframe modelAero Commander 100-180 Engine modelLycoming O&VO-360 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

N3733X departed cox field (prx) after completing preflight check, including sumping fuel twice and completing runup.

Approximately one minute after leveling off at 500 AGL, engine sputtered once and stopped.

After emergency landing in a field, the aircraft hit trees before coming to a stop.

As the FAA filed it

N3733X DEPARTED COX FIELD (PRX) AFTER COMPLETING PREFLIGHT CHECK, INCLUDING SUMPING FUEL TWICE AND COMPLETING RUNUP.

APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 500 AGL, ENGINE SPUTTERED ONCE AND STOPPED.

AFTER EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT HIT TREES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN18LA113Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportDeport, TXA total loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot/owner's inadequate maintenance of the fuel caps.Mar 2, 2018 · Substantial damage