# NTSB ATL87FA243: Aero Commander 112, N1050J, Middlefield, OH, August 28, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1987, 21:09 local (Aug 28, 1987, 01:09 UTC)
- Place: Middlefield, OH
- Coordinates: 41.449192, -81.070106 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4492&lon=-81.0701&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7315
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA243
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7315/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA243

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, maneuvering
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,cargo restraints - missing
  - security of cargo - disregarded, pilot in command
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

ON THE PREVIOUS FLT, THE PLT MADE TWO UNSUCCESSFUL IFR APPROACHES BEFORE LANDING ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT. THE PAX- CONFIGURED ACFT WAS LOADED WITH CARGO. THE PLT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND DEPARTED THE ARPT. RADIO CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED WITH ATC AND THE PLT REQUESTED ACTIVATION OF HIS IFR FLIGHT PLAN. ATC COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE ACFT DUE TO NONRECEIPT OF THE TRANSPONDER. THE PLT WAS ASKED TO RESET THE CODE. THAT WAS THE LAST CONTACT WITH THE ACFT. IT WAS FOUND TWO DAYS LATER ABOUT ONE AND ONE HALF MILES FROM THE ARPT IN A HEAVILY WOODED AREA. UNRESTRAINED CARGO WAS FOUND THROUGHOUT THE FUSELAGE. THE PLT HAD BEEN ASKED TO MAINTAIN VFR UNTIL RADAR CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED. RADAR CONTACT WAS NOT ESTABLISHED. THE WT & BAL COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO MOVEMENT OF CARGO. RECOVERED CARGO INDICATED AN OVER GW CONDITION. THE TIME OF THE CARGO MOVEMENT IN THE ACFT WAS NOT DETERMINED BUT BELIEVED TO BE POSTCRASH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1050J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1050J-1989-06-08), registration cancelled 1989-06-08, S/N 50 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 112
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 112](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-112) (registry code 0144701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 50
- Airframe hours: 1794
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Northnoor Flyers, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 20, 1987, 17 hours before
- Departed: 7G8, MIDDLEFIELD, OH
- Destination: DAYTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,048 total, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: YNG, 22 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870827048419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870827048419A), Aug 27, 1987: Gulstm 112, Middlefield, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control circling VFR in IMC near airport awaiting an IFR clearance. Struck trees in vertical bank. Over gross.

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.

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