Aero Commander 100 accident near Fort Worth, Texas, March 26, 1998
On March 26, 1998 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N5530M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Worth, Texas (Meacham Intl. 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 separation of the aileron control rod due to bending overstress. A factor was the unsuitable terrain available for the precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1998 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Worth, Texas · Meacham Intl. Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N5530M · no longer on the register · serial 116
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The control rod for the pilot's aileron control separated during takeoff, initial climb, after the pilot heard a 'loud pop'. The pilot elected to land straight ahead, using rudder inputs for directional control. The airplane became airborne and then 'began to drift left of centerline.' Examination of the aircraft revealed a push-pull rod for aileron control was found separated at the connecting point to the bellcrank assembly, behind the left control yoke. Metallurgical examination of the rod disclosed fracture surfaces were rough and had a matte appearance along a shear plane. The rod exhibited bending deformation adjacent to the fracture. According to the metallurgist, these features are typical of an overstress separation. No evidence of pre-existing cracks, such as fatigue, was found.
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: 308 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,079 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 21, 1998; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FTW at 9:30 pm
- Destination: F71 Luck Field TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16R, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 23 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.