Aero Commander 100 accident near Fulton, Kentucky, July 26, 2003
On July 26, 2003, a Aero Commander 100, registered N4103X, was destroyed in an accident near Fulton, Kentucky (Fulton 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 malfunction of the brake system and the pilot's delay in aborting the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2003
- Place
- Fulton, Kentucky · Fulton Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N4103X · no longer on the register · serial 162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he departed on a local flight to another airport. At that airport, the pilot performed a "touch-and-go" landing and did not use the brakes. Upon returning to first airport, the pilot landed normally, except that when he applied the brakes, they did not work. The pilot attempted to abort the landing and applied full power. The airplane departed the end of the runway and impacted a ravine. Upon impact, the airplane "flipped on it's back." Due to the fact that the airplane had sustained significant impact damage, and had been moved from the accident site prior to examination, it could not determine if or how the brakes failed.
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: 661 hours in all; 589 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 648 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,112.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 2003; 6.6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UCY Union City TN
- Destination: 1M7 Fulton KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.