Aero Commander 100-180 accident near Athens, Ohio, May 21, 2011
On May 21, 2011 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100-180, registered N4016X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Athens, Ohio (Ohio University Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed in the flare which resulted in a stall and a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2011 · about 7:45 pm local time · cases in 2011
- Place
- Athens, Ohio · Ohio University Airport · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100-180 · all 100-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4016X · no longer on the register · serial 5148
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he flew a stable approach and as he flared the airplane, a wind gust raised the nose and slowed the airplane. He added engine power, but the airplane descended and impacted the runway. The right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane skidded off the right side of the runway resulting in a collapsed nose gear and a propeller strike. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies, and substantial damage was noted to the firewall and fuselage. Witnesses reported that the airplane was on a high, steep, and fast approach before the landing flare and touchdown occurred near mid-field. The airplane appeared to "balloon" during the flare and stall prior to impact with the runway.
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
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Aircraft structural failure during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › Wing structure › Trailing edge flaps › Not used/operated other cases naming the airframe structure
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Capability exceeded other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 178 hours in all; 78 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 119 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 10, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,475 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I86 New Lexington OH at 7:00 pm
- Destination: UNI Athens OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:30 pm from UNI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on June 22, 2011. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statement - 1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Observations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Ohio State Police Report | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Logbook Pages | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | FAA and Osp Photos (8 Pages) | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Photo 1: Airplane Landing. | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Photo 2: the Airplane After the Accident Occurred. | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N4016X: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Aero Commander 100 166 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F 14 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ohio University Airport · nearest airport
- ED Newlon Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Ohio 1,884 since 1982 · 253 in the last ten years
- Ohio 8,528 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN11LA352.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.