Commander AC-680 accident near Hope, Arkansas, May 8, 2008
On May 8, 2008 at about 3:19 pm local time, a Commander AC-680, registered N39BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Hope, Arkansas (Hope Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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 control of the twin-engine airplane while landing. Contributing to the accident were the crosswind and partial loss of power on the right engine.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 8, 2008 · about 3:19 pm local time
- Place
- Hope, Arkansas · Hope Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Commander AC-680
- Registration
- N39BA · registry record · serial 868
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non multi-engine rated pilot needed to make an unscheduled landing in his twin-engine airplane to "check fuel." While on final approach in a crosswind, the airplane drifted to the left of runway centerline and the pilot compensated with right rudder input and increased power on both engines. The right engine did not power up immediately and the airplane was pulled to the right of the runway centerline. The pilot said that he was unable to get the airplane back in line with the runway before it hit the ground. Witnesses said the airplane did not sound right and was weaving back and forth as it approached the runway with its right wing low. The airplane landed, then bounced several times before it came to a complete stop. Examination of the airplane revealed that it had sustained substantial damage to the right wing and tail cone. The right main and nose landing gear were also damaged, and all three propeller blades on the right engine were bent aft at the tips. The airplane was equipped with three fuel tanks in each wing; one inboard of the engine nacelle and two outboard of the engine nacelle. The right wing's two outboard tanks had been disabled and only the right inboard tank was being utilized at the time of the accident. It appeared to be less than a quarter full. Approximately two cups of what appeared to be a mixture of brown sludgy debris, water, and blue fuel were drained from the main fuel strainer in the fuselage.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GTSO-480-B1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4M3 Carlisle AR at 2:00 pm
- Destination: TRL Terell TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,600 ft; a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 4:04 pm from TXK, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.