# NTSB FTW94LA116: Aero Commander 100-180, N4015X, Steamboat Sprgs, CO, April 3, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 3, 1994, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Steamboat Sprgs, CO - Coordinates: 40.490196, -106.830665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4902&lon=-106.8307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19025 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19025/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA116 ## Probable cause AN INADVERTENT STALL AFTER LIFTOFF. FACTORS WERE AN UNFAVORABLE WIND AND HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - runway - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL AND THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF AT 80 KIAS. AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 40 FEET, THE AIRPLANE 'LOST LIFT AND LOST ALTITUDE' AND STRUCK THE RUNWAY, DAMAGING THE LANDING GEAR. THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE PILOT SAID 'A SUDDEN SHIFT IN WIND DIRECTION WITH A GUST OF SUFFICIENT SPEED FROM CROSSWIND TO TAILWIND CAUSED THE SUDDEN LOSS OF LIFT.' ONE WITNESS SAID IT APPEARED THE AIRPLANE WAS CLOSE TO A 'DYNAMIC STALL,' AND HE DESCRIBED IT AS 'VERY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE...HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK...SLOW...UNSTABLE.' COMPUTATIONS INDICATE THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS AT 8,410 FEET MSL, AND THE AIRPLANE WAS NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS TAKEOFF WEIGHT AND AFT CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMIT. ## Factual narrative On April 3, 1994, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, N4015X, an Aero Commander 100-180, was substantially damaged during takeoff at Steamboat Springs, Colorado. One passenger was seriously injured; the private pilot and two other passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In his pilot/operator report, the pilot said the takeoff was normal and the airplane lifted off at 80 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). He said after climbing about 40 feet, the airplane "lost lift and lost altitude" and struck the runway, damaging the landing gear. The pilot said he lost control and the airplane went off the left side of the runway, down an embankment, and collided with a ditch. The pilot said "a sudden shift in wind direction with a gust of sufficient speed from crosswind to tailwind caused the sudden loss of lift." Witnesses said the airplane lifted off, then bounced back onto the runway, and lifted off again. One witness said it appeared "the aircraft was close to a dynamic stall, (very nose high attitude). It seemed as though the pilot tried to regain control by pushing the nose over but the aircraft appeared to still be very slow and unstable. This was followed by another high angle of attack and unstable flight." The airplane had been fueled to capacity just before the accident. According to the Lark Commander Owners Manual the airplane has a gross takeoff weight of 2,450 pounds and, at that weight, a center of gravity range from 40.55 inches to 46.25 inches aft of datum. The manual further indicates that the airplane will weigh 2,455 pounds if it is serviced to full capacity (40 gallons) and four adult occupants, each weighing 170 pounds, are on board. Density altitude was 8,410 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4015X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4015X-2013-07-18), registration cancelled 2013-07-18, S/N 5115, built 1969 (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: 5115 - Airframe hours: 1380 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cox, James E. & Pepin, John G. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1993, 50 hours before - Destination: GJT, GRAND JUNCTION, CO - Airport: SBS, Bob Adams Field, runway 32, 4,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 611 total, 6 in this make and model, 611 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 16 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SBS ## 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 19940403007509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940403007509A), Apr 3, 1994: Slinds 100180, Steamboat Sprin, CO, Substantial damage. Became airborne twice, came back on runway, severed main left gear strut, came to rest right side up down. 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.