# NTSB FTW84FA047: Aero Commander 520, N4116B, Clines Corners, NM, November 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: November 8, 1983, 20:18 local (Nov 9, 1983, 03:18 UTC)
- Place: Clines Corners, NM
- Coordinates: 35.019653, -105.780525 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0197&lon=-105.7805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21079
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84FA047
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21079/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84FA047

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - initiated, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - continued, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, cruise
  - aircraft handling - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - spatial disorientation, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total instrument time, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PLT WAS ON FERRY FLT FROM BARTLESVILLE, OK TO ONTARIO, CA. AN EN ROUTE STOP WAS MADE AT TUCUMCARI, NM, WHERE THE ACFT WAS REFUELED & 14 QTS OF OIL WAS ADDED TO THE LEFT ENG. THE LINE BOY WHO SERVICED THE ACFT SAW NO VISIBLE OIL LEAKS OR SPILLAGE AROUND THE ENG. WHILE ON THE NEXT LEG OF THE FLT, THE ACFT CRASHED NEAR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 40. TWO WITNESSES THAT SAW THE CRASH STATED RAIN WAS FALLING, THE WIND WAS BLOWING VERY STRONG & THERE WERE LOW CEILINGS. REPORTEDLY, A SQUALL LINE WAS MOVING THRU THE AREA & THERE WAS MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ACFT HAD CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE, WITH 20 TO 30 DEG LEFT BANK & AT HIGH SPEED. NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURES WERE FOUND & BOTH ENGS HAD EVIDENCE THAT THEY WERE OPERATING DURING IMPACT. THE WX BRIEFER SAID THE PLT INDICATED HE WOULD FLY AROUND THE AREA OF PRECIPITATION & REMAIN VFR. RADAR INFO SHOWED THE PLT HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY & VARYING HIS ALT BETWEEN 7900 & 6300 FT MSL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4116B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4116B-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N 520-20, built 1952 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 520
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 520](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-520) (registry code 0141202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming GO-435C&D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-go-435c-d-series) (registry code 41521, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 520-20
- Engines: LYCOMING GO-435-C2B 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raymond M. Tolles
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special flight (Special)
- Departed: TCC, TUCUMCARI, NM
- Destination: TUS, TUCSON, AZ

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 625 total, 95 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TCC, 91 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19831108059459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831108059459A), Nov 8, 1983: Gulstm 520, Clines Corners, NM, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Impacted at high velocity. Squall line low ceiling and rain in area. No ferry permit. Poorly maintained mechanically.

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.