Aero Commander 100 accident near Browning, Missouri, February 3, 1991
On February 3, 1991 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N5516M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Browning, Missouri. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FUEL STARVATION DUE TO A BLOCKED FUEL VENT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 1991 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Browning, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N5516M · no longer on the register · serial 115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES INTO A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT SAID THAT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, THEN QUIT. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED IN A PASTURE WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGED AND MINOR INJURIES TO THE PAX. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED PLASTIC WRAPPING AROUND THE JUNCTURE OF THE LEFT STABILIZER AND FUSELAGE, WHICH THE PILOT SAID BLEW ACROSS HIS PATH ON TAKEOFF. THE FUEL TANK VENT IS LOCATED MIDWAY BETWEEN THE LANDING GEAR LEGS. NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION NOR FUEL SUPPLY SHORTAGE WAS FOUND.
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: 2,618 hours in all; 219 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,598 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 4, 1990; 28 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: TRX Trenton MO at 10:30 pm
- Destination: HAE Hannibal MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Observation at 10:50 pm from IRK, 40 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.