# NTSB DEN93LA087: Aero Commander 100-180, N3617X, Wray, CO, July 27, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 1993, 09:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place: Wray, CO
- Coordinates: 40.070358, -102.220718 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0704&lon=-102.2207&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18304
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN93LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18304/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN93LA087

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE WIND CONDITIONS AND IMPROPER RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING. THE GUSTY CROSSWIND WAS A FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - recovery from bounced landing - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

IN HIS FIRST LANDING ATTEMPT TO RUNWAY 32, THE PILOT USED 30 DEGREES OF FLAPS BUT THE AIRPLANE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE DURING THE FLARE AND THE LANDING WAS ABORTED.  A SECOND LANDING ATTEMPT WAS ABANDONED DUE TO DEPARTING TRAFFIC.  ON THE THIRD LANDING ATTEMPT, THE PILOT USED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS AND A SLIGHTLY HIGHER APPROACH SPEED.  AGAIN, THE AIRPLANE YAWED TO THE LEFT AND THE PILOT SAID SLIGHT RUDDER APPLICATION RESULTED IN FULL RUDDER DEFLECTION.  THE PILOT SAID HE WAS SLOW IN RECOVERING AND ADDING FULL POWER TO GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE RUNWAY, SLID APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET, AND CAUGHT FIRE.  A WITNESS SAID THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD, BOUNCED, ASSUMED A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, STALLED, AND IMPACTED THE RUNWAY.  POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED NO EVIDENCE OF RUDDER OR OTHER FLIGHT CONTROL DISCREPANCIES. PILOT REPORTED WIND WAS FROM 350 DEGREES AT 10 MILES PER HOUR GUSTING TO 25.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3617X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3617X-1993-10-12), registration cancelled 1993-10-12, S/N 5093 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5093
- Airframe hours: 1300
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carson, Omer L.
- Registered owner: Carson, Omer L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 23, 1992, 45 hours before
- Departed: 1V5, BOULDER, CO
- Destination: 2V5
- Airport: 2V5, Wray Municipal, runway 32, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 99 in this make and model, 104 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 10 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19930727025729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930727025729A), Jul 27, 1993: Slinds 100180, Wray, CO, Destroyed. Bounced on third try for landing in gusty wind. Began nose high go around and stalled.

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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