# Accident 20200104000859A: Aero Commander 100, Mullin, TX, January 4, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 4, 2020, 16:25 local time
- Place: Mullin, TX
- Airport: N/A
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.6503° N, 98.6542° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6503&lon=-98.6542&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5573M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5573M-2022-12-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aero Commander 100 (registry code 0140202, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 100
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 2,300 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA055) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200104000859A

## Narrative

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

PILOT AND STUDENT DEPARTED ABILENE REGIONAL AIRPORT IN ABILENE, TEXAS. THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS FOR STUDENT TO SATISFY SOLO TOWER CONTROLLED AIRPORT LANDINGS REQUIREMENT FOR HIS PILOT TRAINING. AIRCRAFT WAS TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL FOR THE INTENDED FLIGHT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE FLIGHT WENT AS PLANNED UNTIL FLIGHT CREW BEGAN A SLOW DECENT TO INSTRUCTOR PILOTS PRIVATE AIRSTRIP APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES OUT. AIRSTRIP IS LOCATED IN MULLIN, TEXAS. AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 FEET MSL THE EHGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. INSTRUCTOR PILOT IMMEDIATELY TOOK CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT CONTROLS AND ENSURED FUEL SELECTOR WAS ON BOTH, CARBURETOR HEAT WAS ON AND MIXTURE WAS FULL RICH. PILOT TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT FOR BEST GLIDE RATE OF DECENT. FLIGHT CREW REALIZED MAKING IT TO THE INTENDED AIRSTRIP WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS POINT.  PILOT ALTERED COURSE 45 DEGREES WEST FOR A MORE FAVORABLE LANDING SPOT. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES WERE COMPLIED WITH. THE MOST FAVORABLE LANDING SPOT WAS A PLOWED FIELD ABOUT I MILE OUT. PILOT CONFIGURED FOR A SOFT FIELD LANDING. AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PLOWED FIELD THERE WAS A LINE OF TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT RIGHT WINGTIP MADE CONTACT WITH ONE OF THE TREES. PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AND AT THAT POINT AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 6 FEET FROM GROUND. AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON BOTH MAIN GEAR AND SKIDDED ABOUT 30 FEET IN THE LOOSE PLOWED SOIL BEFORE COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP WHEN THE NOSE GEAR DUG INTO THE SOIL. THE AIRCRAFT SLOWLY TOPPLED OVER ONTO ITS WINGS. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO TOP SECTION OF VERTICAL STABILIZER RIBS, RUDDER TOP SECTION DAMAGED, LEFT INBOARD TOP WING PUNCTURED AREA DAMAGE TO REAR SPAR AREA, RIGHT WING TIP DAMAGED, FWD LEADING EDGES BOTH WINGS DAMAGE AND BUCKLING OF SKIN UNDERSIDE OF BOTH WINGS, NOSE GEAR STRUT BENT AND STRUT SUPPORT SEVERELY DAMAGED, UNDERSIDE FWD BELLY COWLING DAMAGED, RIGHT TOP OUTBOARD ELEVATOR TRAILING EDGE DAMAGED. THESE ARE AREAS THAT WERE VISIBLE TO INSPECTOR AS AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION AND SOME AREAS WERE NOT VISIBLE AT TIME OF VISUAL INSPECTION. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM BOTH TOP WING FUEL FILL PORTS. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE NO INJURIES REPORTED BY FLIGHT CREW. AIRCRAFT WAS MOVED TO AIR SALVAGE OF DALLAS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

## 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 CEN20LA055](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA055), Jan 4, 2020: Aero Commander 100 (N5573M), Mullin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

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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