Aero Commander 100-180 accident near Cando, North Dakota, April 6, 1987
On April 6, 1987 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100-180, registered N4069X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cando, North Dakota (Cando airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- April 6, 1987 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cando, North Dakota · Cando · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100-180 · all 100-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4069X · registry record · serial 5109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT ATTEMPTED LANDING AND ON SHORT FINAL, THE PLT RECOGNIZED A PICKUP TRUCK OBSTRUCTING THE RWY NEAR MIDFIELD. A GO AROUND WAS ATTEMPTED RESULTING IN AN INADVERTANT STALL. THE LEFT WING DIPPED, STRUCK THE RWY, AND SKIDDED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ACFT AND VEHICLE LEFT THE RWY COMING THE REST ON THE SOD AREA LEFT ON THE RWY. ANOTHER ACFT ATTEMPTING TO LAND PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT HAD TO GO AROUND WHILE THE SAME VEHICLE BLOCKED THE RWY.
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: student
- Flight time: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 612 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,750 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.