- Date
- July 13, 1987, 20:17 local (Jul 14, 1987, 01:17 UTC)
- Place
- Mason City, IA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9391RAero Commander 500-B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report January 11, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19870713042009A
- Case key
- 34296
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane was in a normal appearing climb after takeoff when it pitched up to a 70 to 80 degree attitude, stalled, dropped the right wing, then leveled the wings and hit the ground in a near-flat attitude. The weight and CG were within limits. No preimpact problems were found that could cause an inadvertent pitchup. Pilot's only memory is that he couldn't get the control column FAR enough forward to stop the pitchup. The pilot's seat was found in the full forward position with the right locking pin in the locking hole and the left pin 1/4TH of an inch forward of the front locking hole. There were no visible marks on either of the locking pins. Deep scratches were found on the sides of the rail where the seat attachments normally slide back and forth when the seat is adjusted. Exam of the outboard side recessed surface near the aft end disclosed what appeared to be a fresh scratch.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9391R
- Reported as
- Aero Commander 500-B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 500A-906-15
- Airframe hours
- 8,390
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Part 135
- Operator
- Miller Flying Servic,Inc.
- Registered owner
- John D. Towner
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 25, 1987 · 90 hours before
- Destination
- DSM · Des Moines, IA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- MCW · Mason City Municipal, runway 30, 5,500 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 81 in this make and model · 1,561 as pilot in command · 81 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MCW, 1 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.