# NTSB FTW00LA203: Aero Commander 685, N1203N, Pine Bluff, AR, July 8, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2000, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Pine Bluff, AR - Coordinates: 34.210548, -92.009384 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2105&lon=-92.0094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 10, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49676 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA203 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49676/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA203 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudged flare, which resulted in a hard landing. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - lowering of flaps - not performed, pilot in command - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane entered the traffic pattern behind another aircraft, therefore, the pilot extended the downwind leg. Due to the extended downwind, the pilot did not extend the flaps abeam of the touchdown point. The pilot stated that after turning final, the VASI was red over white so he did not extend the flaps, since he was on glide path and the airspeed was 100 knots, which was the recommended speed for final approach. He further stated that 'after touchdown, which was a bit hard, the nose gear collapsed.' Examination of the runway revealed that the airplane touched down on its tail, leaving a 5-foot gouge on the runway. The airplane then touched down on its nose landing gear, leaving a 1,000-foot mark on the runway. The airplane came to a stop upright on the runway. The pilot had accumulated a total flight time of 450 hours, of which 45 hours were in multiengine airplanes, and 6 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2000, approximately 1030 central daylight time, an Aero Commander 685 twin-engine airplane, N1203N, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at the Grider Field Airport near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual. The commercial pilot and his sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 business flight. The cross-country flight departed Prescott, Arkansas, at 1000. The pilot reported that prior to entering the downwind leg for runway 35, he completed the pre-landing checklist and confirmed the landing gear was down and locked. The pilot stated that he entered downwind behind another aircraft, therefore, he had to extend his downwind. Due to the extension of downwind, he did not extend the flaps abeam of his touchdown point. After turning final, the VASI was red over white so he "did not extend the flaps on final, not wanting to change the configuration since I was on glide path and my speed was 100 knots," which was the pilot operating handbook's recommended speed for final approach. "After touchdown, which was a bit hard, the nose gear collapsed." The passenger reported to an FAA inspector that he felt the turn to final was too steep, and when they started down, they were dropping faster than he was used to. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane touched down on its tail, leaving a 5-foot gouge on the runway. The airplane then touched down on its nose landing gear, leaving a 1,000-foot mark on the runway. The airplane came to a stop upright on the runway. Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose landing gear actuator was shoved up through the bulkhead into the forward baggage compartment. The fuselage was wrinkled forward and aft of the wings, and the tail tie down ring was shoved up into the tail. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he had accumulated a total flight time of 450 hours, of which 45 hours were in multiengine airplanes, and 6 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1203N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1203N), registered now, S/N 12046, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 685 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 685](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-685) (registry code 0141612) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 12046 - Engines: Continental GTSIO-520K 435 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles A. Mohundro - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 4F7, PRESCOTT, AR - Destination: PBF - Airport: PBF, Grider Field, runway 35, 5,998 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 450 total, 6 in this make and model, 371 as pilot in command, 166 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBF ## 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 20000708004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000708004619A), Jul 8, 2000: Gulstm 685, Pine Bluff, AR, No damage. (-23) At approximately 10:30AM on July 8, 2000, Mr. Mashburn, piloting N1203N, a 685 commander was attempting a landing at the maunicipal airport in Pine… 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.