Aero Commander 680 accident near Headland, Alabama, October 6, 1992
On October 6, 1992 at about 4:05 pm local time, a Aero Commander 680, registered N4490, was substantially damaged in an accident near Headland, Alabama (Headland Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE CONDUCTING A HIGH SPEED TAXI MANEUVER WHICH RESULTED IN INADVERTENT FLIGHT. FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY, HIS LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE AND THE WIND GUST.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 1992 · about 4:05 pm local time
- Place
- Headland, Alabama · Headland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680 · all 680s on the register
- Registration
- N4490 · no longer on the register · serial 680-487-157
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE OWNER, HE AND THE PILOT HAD FLOWN FROM ALBANY, GEORGIA TO SWAP A PIPER 28 FOR THE AERO COMMANDER 680. PRIOR TO COMPLETING THE TRADE, THE PREVIOUS OWNER RECONSTRUCTED A SET OF AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOGS WHICH REVEALED THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME AND ENGINE SERIAL NUMBERS. THE OWNER ASSUMED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS AIRWORTHY. SINCE THE PILOT WAS NOT AERO COMMANDER RATED, THEY DECIDED TO TAXI THE AIRPLANE ON THE RAMP AND RUNWAY TO GAIN SOME EXPERIENCE. WHILE TAXIING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON RUNWAY 09, THE OWNER REPORTED THAT A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE AS THE TAXI SPEED APPROACHED 65 MPH. THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AS IT BECAME AIRBORNE. THE AIRPLANE ROTATED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND; THE AIRPLANE CARTWHEELED TO A STOP FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION FAILED TO DISCLOSE A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. REPORTEDLY, THE PILOT COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT BUT, THE WRECKAGE EXAMINATION DISCOVERED A LARGE BIRD'S NEST IN THE SUMP AREA OF THE LEFT ENGINE AND A MISSING EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE PILOT WAS NOT MULITIENGINE RATED.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 869 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 705 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,693 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 7,500 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-B1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0J6 at 4:05 pm
- Destination: SYV Sylvester GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,200 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from DHN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.