# NTSB NYC99LA018: Aero Commander AC-100, N5546M, Bridgeton, NJ, October 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 1998, 18:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Bridgeton, NJ - Location: 39.4737° N, 75.1846° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BUCKS (00N), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4737&lon=-75.1846&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45195 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA018 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45195/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA018 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly flare the airplane at touchdown. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dark night - Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll ## Analysis Approximately 10 miles from the destination airport, the pilot activated the pilot controlled lighting, over-flew the airport and identified the winds as calm. The pilot then made a left downwind entry. He completed the downwind, and base, before turning final approximately 3/4 of a mile from the runway, and 500 feet above the ground. Once on final, the pilot select full flaps and slowed the airplane to 70 mph. The airplane touched down flat, but harder then normal on the turf runway, then rolled approximately 8 feet before the nose gear collapsed. The airplane continued straight ahead for approximately 40 feet then smoothly nosed over. Both the pilot and passenger egressed without injury. The night before the accident the pilot made three takeoffs and landings. Also, the pilot had landed at the accident airport approximately 150 times. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 1998, at 1850 eastern standard time, an Aero Commander AC-100, N5546M, was substantially damage while landing at Bucks Airport (00N), Bridgeton, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. No flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he departed Sumerset, Pennsylvania, about 1635, and climbed to an en route altitude of 5,500 feet above mean sea level (MSL), while proceeding to Bridgeton. About 10 miles from Bridgeton, the pilot activated the pilot controlled lighting, and over flew the airport to identify wind speed and direction. The pilot stated, "The wind sock was limp." After checking the winds, the pilot made a left downwind entry for Runway 36 at 1,000 feet above MSL. The pilot flew a downwind, and base, before turning final approximately 3/4 of a mile from the runway, and 500 feet above the ground. Once on final, he selected full flaps and slowed the airplane to 70 mph. The pilot added that the approach was "normal" until touchdown. He stated that the airplane "touched down flat, but harder then normal" on the turf runway, then rolled approximately 8 feet before the nose gear was sheared off. The airplane continued straight ahead for approximately 40 feet after shearing off the nose wheel, before it nosed over. The pilot added that the nose over was very smooth. Once the airplane came to rest, both the pilot and passenger egressed without injury. The pilot stated that the night before the accident he had made three takeoffs and landings, and that he had landed at the accident airport about 150 times. He reported about 200 hours of flight experience, of which 186 hours were in make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5546M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5546M-1999-02-26), registration cancelled 1999-02-26, S/N 129 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander AC-100 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100) (registry code 0140202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 129 - Airframe hours: 4192 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Nicholas Lowers - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1998, 12 hours before - Departed: 2G9, SUMERSET, PA - Destination: 00N, BRIDGETON, NJ - Airport: 00N, Bucks Airport, runway 36, 1,900 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 210 total, 185 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ACY, 32 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 19981026030219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981026030219A), Oct 26, 1998: Bridgeton, NJ, Substantial damage. Acft nose gear collapsed on landing. (-23) upon returning from a cross country flight it would appear that the pilot made a faster than normal appraoch/landing… 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.