# NTSB CEN22LA390: Aero Commander 100-180, N3727X, Pueblo, CO, August 13, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 13, 2022, 08:08 local (14:08 UTC) - Place: Pueblo, CO - Coordinates: 38.286428, -104.50534 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2864&lon=-104.5053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105788 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA390 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105788/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105788 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA390 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the demonstrated soft-field takeoff, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 100-180, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0140208), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the flight instructor was attempting to demonstrate a soft-field takeoff with 10° of flaps after having completed a short field landing. The flight instructor had the student pilot “follow along on the controls” during the demonstration. After takeoff and while in ground effect, the stall warning horn sounded, and the airplane drifted to the right. Unable to gain airspeed by pitching the nose down due to their low altitude, the flight instructor instructed the student pilot to retract the flaps to 0°. The student pilot reported that immediately following the flap retraction, the airplane stalled to the left and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left elevator. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3727X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3727X), registered now, S/N 5033, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 100-180 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100-180) (registry code 0140208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5033 - Year built: 1968 - Airframe hours: 1938 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 18, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: KPUB, Pueblo Memorial, runway 8L, 4,690 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2021; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,743 total, 2 in this make and model, 3,568 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 32; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 61 total, 61 in this make and model, 44 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg ## 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 20220813014559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220813014559A), Aug 13, 2022: Aero Commander 100-180, Pueblo, CO, Substantial damage. On aug 13, 2022 at approximately 0808 MST aircraft [privacy data omitted] failed to obtain sufficient power and stalled/lost control immediately after takeoff.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105788. 13.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14386989&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14387565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.