Aero Commander 100 accident near Carrabelle, Florida, October 5, 1991
On October 5, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N3673X, was destroyed in an accident near Carrabelle, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE NON INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S DECISION TO CONTINUE FLIGHT INTO KNOWN INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (THUNDERSTORM) AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO) WHILE MANEUVERING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN A WEATHER BRIEFING AND TO ENSURE THAT REQUIRED VFR DAY FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS WERE INSTALLED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Carrabelle, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N3673X · no longer on the register · serial 319
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NON INSTRUMENT-RATED PILOT DEPARTED ON A VFR CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WITHOUT OBTAINING A WEATHER BRIEFING. THE AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE REQUIRED VFR DAY FLIGHT EQUIPMENT. THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A THUNDERSTORM. WHILE MANEUVERING THE AIRPLANE, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL FOR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VSO). THIS RESULTED IN STALL/SPIN, AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
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: 497.7 hours in all; 248.1 in this make and model; 8.1 in the last 90 days; 5.3 in the last 30 days; 446.6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 1988; 207 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: F47 St. Jorge Isl. FL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: 2J9 Quincy FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from AQQ, 17 miles away
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.