Aero Commander 100 accident near Knights Landing, California, April 7, 1997
On April 7, 1997 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N87770, was substantially damaged in an accident near Knights Landing, California (Sun Rise Dusters, INC airport). It was a personal 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
the pilot's failure to maintain minimum control airspeed during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain directional control after landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 1997 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Knights Landing, California · Sun Rise Dusters, INC · 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
- N87770 · no longer on the register · serial 328
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was landing for the first time at a 1,500-foot-long duster strip, and stated that because of the shortness of the runway and the potential for automobile cross traffic at the other end, he attempted a short field landing. However, the approach end of the runway had a dirt berm across it and it was hard to judge the height. As he approached the berm he added power to clear it, but the plane stalled about 6 to 7 feet agl and landed hard. It bounced and turned left colliding with a metal storage shed.
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: 213 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 68 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,243 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1997; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CCR Concord CA at 6:50 pm
- Destination: NONE CA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0, 1,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Observation at 6:47 pm from KSM
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.