Aero Commander 100 accident near North Pole, Alaska, March 21, 2003
On March 21, 2003 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N4123X, was substantially damaged in an accident near North Pole, Alaska (North Pole airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The flight instructor's improper usage of the airplane's fuel mixture control, resulting in a loss of engine power during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2003 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- North Pole, Alaska · North Pole · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N4123X · no longer on the register · serial 222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor was providing primary flight instruction to the student pilot in a wheel-equipped airplane. The instructor pilot reported that just after takeoff from runway 15, about 100 feet above the runway, the airplane's engine began to run rough and lose power, and emergency engine procedures did not restore engine power. The airplane subsequently collided with a stand of trees at the departure end of the runway, and sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. An FAA inspector who inspected the airplane reported finding no preaccident mechanical anomalies. The student pilot reported to the FAA inspector that prior to the accident takeoff, just after starting the airplane's engine, the instructor pilot leaned the fuel mixture and applied full carburetor heat during the 15 to 20 minute engine warm-up time. He said that after the engine was warm, they taxied to the departure end of the runway, and started their takeoff roll, with the mixture control and carburetor heat in the same position. He reported that just after takeoff the engine began to run rough, and lose power. He added that the instructor pilot then took control of the airplane, pushed in the carburetor heat control (off), and all engine power was lost. The student pilot reported that immediately following the accident, both pilots noticed that the mixture control was still in the lean position.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 553 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 29, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 19 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,023 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 12, 2002; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 95Z North Pole AK at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 95Z North Pole AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,400 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.