Aero Commander 100 accident near Oak Hill, Florida, September 9, 1985
On September 9, 1985 at about 11:35 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N3684X, was destroyed in an accident near Oak Hill, Florida. It was a positioning 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1985 · about 11:35 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Hill, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N3684X · no longer on the register · serial 326
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLT IN HIS RECENTLY PURCHASED ACFT. THE PLT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FULL PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINS AFTER TAKE-OFF, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SWITCH FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. SECONDS LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER & ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENG FAILED. AN EMERG DESCENT WAS ESTABLISHED & THEACFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED & THE PLT & HIS PAX SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE PLT STATED THAT APRX ONEMONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE HAD DRAINED APRX ONE PINT OFWATER FROM THE SINGLE DRAIN POINT IN THE FUEL SYST. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE STATED THAT HE HAD DRAINED THE FUEL SUMP DURING THE PREFLT INSPECTION & DID NOT OBSERVE ANY WATER. ALTHOUGH BOTH FUEL TANKS RUPTERED ON IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT TANK REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK.
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: 924 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days; 857 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,832 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 28, 1985; 3 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: X21 Titusville FL
- Destination: 34J New Smyrna Bch FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:49 pm from DAB, 22 miles away
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.