# NTSB FTW78FA085: Aero Comdr 500, N6244B, Laredo, TX, September 23, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 23, 1978
- Place: Laredo, TX · LAREDO, TX
- Location: 27.5064° N, 99.5075° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Laredo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5064&lon=-99.5075&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139736
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78FA085
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78FA085

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2862  78/9/23    LAREDO,TX           AERO COMDR 500      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 38, 310
        TIME - 2340                    N6244B              PX-  6  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 142 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          FT WORTH,TX                 LAREDO,TX                    SAN ANTONIO,TX
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INITIATED FLIGHT IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  2000
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          3 MILES OR LESS                                          UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          HAZE                                                      73
        WIND DIRECTION-DEGREES                                   WIND VELOCITY-KNOTS
           50                                                       7
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- DARK NIGHT,VFR FLT NOT RECOMMENDED.DURING LAST 11MIN OF FLT HEADING CHANGED THRU 630DEG.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6244B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6244B-1979-04-18), registration cancelled 1979-04-18, S/N 652-13 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 500
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500) (registry code 0141102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19780923032499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780923032499A), Sep 23, 1978: Rkwell 500B, Laredo, TX, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Dark night,VFR flt not recommended. During last 11MIN of flt headihanged thru 630DEG.

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.