Aero Commander 100-180 accident near Mineola Quitman, Texas, January 2, 1988
On January 2, 1988 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100-180, registered N3709X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mineola Quitman, Texas (Quitman Arpt. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- January 2, 1988 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mineola Quitman, Texas · Quitman Arpt. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100-180 · all 100-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3709X · no longer on the register · serial 5010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDING, THE ENGINE BACK FIRED AND THEN SURGED. AT ABOUT 150' AGL THE ENGINE RPM DROPPED ABOUT 80% AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER A TRASH DUMP AND BETWEEN TWO TREES. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR A FENCE THE STALL WARNING HORN WENT OFF. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE GROUND LEFT MAIN AND WING FIRST CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND THAT THE ENGINE EXHAUST MUFFLER HAD FAILED INTERNALLY BLOCKING THE EXHAUST OUTLET.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,444 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 1,444 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,178 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 5, 1987; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3T1 at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 1N1 Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.