Aero Commander A-9 accident near Andalusia, Alabama, September 26, 1983
On September 26, 1983 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander A-9, registered N8031V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Andalusia, Alabama. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1983 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Andalusia, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander A-9
- Registration
- N8031V · no longer on the register · serial 1598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER SPRAYING 2 FIELDS, THE PLT WAS EN ROUTE TO SPRAY A 3RD FIELD WHEN A SEVERE VIBRATION OF THE ACFT WAS ENCOUNTERED. HE ELECTED TO LAND IN THE 1ST AVAILABLE FIELD & DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A TERRACE & NOSED OVER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE DID NOT REALIZE THE FIELD WAS UNEVEN & TERRACED UNTIL THE ACFT WAS ON THE GROUND. GRASS & TALL WEEDS WERE GROWING IN THE FIELD. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE UPPER RIGHT ENG MOUNT HAD FAILED. NO FATIGUE WAS FOUND; HOWEVER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF HAMMERING, INDICATING MULTIPLE IMPACTS AFTER THE INITIAL FAILURE.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J4 Florala AL at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from CEW, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.