- Date
- May 29, 1996, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Jesup, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3797XAero Commander 100
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 3, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960529012089A
- Case key
- 3730
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation, and his failure to remain clear of the fence during takeoff.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Earlier in the day, a forced landing of the aircraft had been made in an off-airport field. A mechanic inspected the aircraft and pronounced it safe to fly. A witness stated that during takeoff, the aircraft lifted off the ground, but failed to clear a four foot pasture fence. The main gear tires struck the top of the fence, then the aircraft was landed again. Before coming to rest, the aircraft collided with an automobile. No mechanical problem with the aircraft was reported by the pilot.
Factual narrative
On May 29, 1996, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an Aero Commander 100, N3797X was substantially damaged following a collision with a fence during takeoff from a field near Jesup, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured in the accident. The airplane was being operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight departed Jessup Wayne County Airport, in Jessup, Georgia, at 1645.
The aircraft had made a forced landing into the field earlier in the day. A mechanic inspected the aircraft, and pronounced it safe to fly. A witness stated that during takeoff, the aircraft lifted off the ground, but failed to clear a four foot pasture fence. The main gear tires struck the top of the fence, and landed on the field again. The aircraft veered left, and collided with an automobile before coming to rest. No mechanical problem with the airplane was reported by the pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3797X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 100
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 295
- Airframe hours
- 1,275
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A2B, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John T Strickland
- Registered owner
- William A Zorn
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- JES
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 77
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,068 total · 18 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SSI, 40 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.