Aero Commander 100-180 N3712X

Summary

On 21 January 1990 at about 22:05 local time, a Aero Commander 100-180 registered N3712X, operated by Young, Jessie, was involved in an accident near Bastrop, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 January 1990 at 22:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Bastrop, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Memorial (2F8)

Coordinates

32.7695, -91.8993

Aircraft

Aero Commander 100-180

Registration

N3712X

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Young, Jessie

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW90LA054

Nobody was injured.

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: INADEQUATE DESIGN OF THE FUEL SYSTEM DRAINS, WHICH PREVENTED AN ADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE FUEL SYSTEM.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING A PREFLT, THE PLT DRAINED THE FUEL SYS/SEDIMENT BOWL UNDER THE ENG COMPARTMENT UNTIL NO WATER CAME OUT. HE NOTED 'QUITE A LOT' OF WATER HAD DRAINED FM THE FUEL SYS. THERE WERE NO FUEL DRAINS UNDER THE WINGS. THE PLT THEN REFUELED THE ACFT, REDRAINED THE FUEL SYS & FND NO MORE WATER. DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABT 150' AGL, THE ENG LOST POWER. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO LAND ON THE ARPT, BUT NOT ON THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE ACFT STRUCK 3 STEEL POLES THAT WERE PART OF AN OLD BUILDING. A POST-ACDNT FUEL SAMPLE FROM THE ACFT CONTAINED 1 INCH OF WATER & 3 INCHES OF FUEL. A SAMPLE OF FUEL FM THE STORAGE TANK CONTAINED NO WATER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.