Aero Commander 100 accident near Hillman, Minnesota, November 10, 2001
On November 10, 2001 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N3761X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hillman, Minnesota (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent stall by the pilot. Factors were the tailwind, and the improper decision of the pilot to takeoff with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2001 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hillman, Minnesota · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N3761X · no longer on the register · serial 251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged when it impacted the ground after takeoff from a private airstrip. In a written statement, the pilot said that the wind was light and from the northwest. He said that he elected to takeoff downwind due to obstructions north of the airstrip. He said that the airplane became airborne and flew to an altitude of about 30 to 50 feet above ground level when the airplane, "...suddenly banked hard to right. Pilot tried to correct with full left yoke deflection and slightly nose down elevator. Right wing contacted [the] ground...." A weather reporting station located about 26 miles and 200 degrees from the accident site recorded the wind as 9 knots from 340 degrees at 1053. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 111 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 28, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,763 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 2001; 24.5 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: PVT Hillman MN at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 180, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from STC, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.