Aero Commander 100 accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 12, 2004
On October 12, 2004 at about 10:27 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N81DC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Allegheny County Airport). It was an instructional 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
The delayed remedial action by the flight instructor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2004 · about 10:27 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Allegheny County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N81DC · no longer on the register · serial 124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 10 feet above the runway, the airplane began a slow roll to the right. The student attempted to correct the roll and then transferred control of the airplane to the flight instructor. The flight instructor decreased the airplane's pitch angle to maintain airspeed. The airplane descended, while the flight instructor held full left aileron and left rudder to return to level flight. The airplane touched down about 50 yards to the right of the runway, at an angle about 30 degrees to the right of it. The flight instructor reduced engine power to idle and attempted to steer the airplane back toward the runway, but the right wing strut struck an electric fence post, and the airplane turned right, then impacted several trees. Examination of the airplane revealed that the aileron cables were intact, and control continuity was confirmed.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,424 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 1,267 as pilot in command; 191 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 24, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 140 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 120 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,113.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 22, 2004; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Allegheny Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: AGC Pittsburgh PA at 10:27 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from AGC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.