# NTSB SEA94LA020: Aero Commander AC-100-180, N3723X, Oregon City, OR, October 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 26, 1993, 17:25 local (Oct 27, 1993, 00:25 UTC) - Place: Oregon City, OR - Coordinates: 45.320209, -122.519737 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3202&lon=-122.5197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41844 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41844/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA020 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TRANSMISSION WIRES. FACTORS INCLUDE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AND TRANSMISSION WIRES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO LAND AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP, THERE WAS A CROSSWIND BLOWING ACROSS THE MORE COMMONLY USED NORTH/SOUTH RUNWAY. HE THEREFORE CHOSE TO LAND ON THE LESS FREQUENTLY USED EAST/WEST RUNWAY. HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE POWER LINES OFF THE APROACH END OF THIS RUNWAY, BUT HE DID NOT SEE THEM IN THE LOW LIGHT OF DUSK. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE LINES AND CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On October 26, 1993, approximately 1725 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an Aero Commander AC-100-180, N3723X, collided with a power line while attempting to land at Fairways Airport, Oregon City, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local pleasure flight, which had departed the same airport about 30 minutes earlier, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which had been activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene. According to the pilot, when he returned to land there was a gusty crosswind to the more commonly used north/south runway. He made a low pass over that runway to check the wind, and then decided to land on the less frequently used east/west runway. He said that he knew there were power lines just off the approach end of the easterly runway that he chose to land on, but he felt it was still the best runway to land on because of the winds. While on final, the pilot thought he was too high, so he added flaps to a total of 20 degrees, and looked for the power line in the dimming light of dusk. He said that he did not see the line, and the last thing he remembered was that his windshield seemed to explode in his face. After impacting the power line, the aircraft crashed in an open field just off the end of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3723X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3723X-1995-09-14), registration cancelled 1995-09-14, S/N 5028 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER AC-100-180 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 100-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-100-180) (registry code 0140208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5028 - Airframe hours: 1313 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A2F 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hansen, Leon V. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 17, 1993, 41 hours before - Airport: 8S8, Fairways Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 700 total, 41 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 120° at 20 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19931026040739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931026040739A), Oct 26, 1993: Slinds 100180, Oregon City, OR, Substantial damage. Lined up on runway into wind. Knew power lines on approach. Unable to see due dusk. Struck powerlines. Crashed. 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.