Aero Commander LARK 100-180 accident near Gonzales, Texas, July 1, 1989
On July 1, 1989 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Aero Commander LARK 100-180, registered N3634X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gonzales, Texas (Gonzales 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
FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE, FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, DURING A LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1989 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Gonzales, Texas · Gonzales · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander LARK 100-180 LARK 100-1
- Registration
- N3634X · no longer on the register · serial 5069
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD JUST COMPLETED A LOW ALTITUDE MANEUVER AT A LOW THROTTLE SETTING AND NOTICED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS HE ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A CLIMB. HE PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING ONTO A ROAD AND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED THE AIRCRAFT IN A COLLISION WITH TREES AND NOSE OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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: 131 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 93 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,622 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1988; 70 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: 50R Lockhart TX at 10:15 pm
- Destination: T20 Gonzales TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.