Aero Commander 100 accident near Vidor, Texas, July 27, 1993
On July 27, 1993 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N4134X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vidor, Texas. It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
CONTROL CABLE SEPARATION DUE TO THE THROTTLE POWER LEVER LINKAGE NOT BEING SECURED BY RETAINER RESULTANT FROM IMPROPER INSTALLATION. A FACTOR WAS A LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1993 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Vidor, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N4134X · no longer on the register · serial 233
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE AIRPLANE HIT A DITCH AND NOSED OVER COMING TO REST UP RIGHT. EXAMINATION OF THE CONTROLS BY FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTORS REVEALED THAT THE MIXTURE CONTROL CABLE HAD SEPARATED AND THE THROTTLE POWER LEVER LINKAGE RETAINER WAS MISSING. AN OVERHAULED CARBURETOR WAS INSTALLED ON MAY 5, 1993.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 144 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days; 78 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 1,990 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,922 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCH Lake Charles LA at 1:00 pm
- Destination: BMT Beaumont TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:40 pm from BPT, 10 miles away
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.