Aero Commander 685 accident near Scranton, Arkansas, June 16, 1988
On June 16, 1988 at about 11:30 am local time, a Aero Commander 685, registered N165SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Scranton, Arkansas (Rogers Landing airport). It was a ferry 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 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
- June 16, 1988 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Scranton, Arkansas · Rogers Landing · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 685 · all 685s on the register
- Registration
- N165SE · no longer on the register · serial 12003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A 2400 FOOT SOD STRIP, THE PIC SAID THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE, ALTHOUGH BOTH ENGINES WERE DELIVERING TAKEOFF POWER AND RPM, AND LIFTOFF SPEEDS WERE PROPER. THE ACFT SETTLED BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND CAREENED OFF ON TO THE OVERRUN SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE ACFT. THE CLOSEST WEATHER REPORTING FACILITY REPORTED NORTH WINDS. THE TAKEOFF WAS ATTEMPTED TO THE SOUTH. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO IRREGULARITIES IN THE POWERPLANTS OR FUEL SYSTEMS. A CHECK OF THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS MADE AND IT WAS WITHIN TOLERANCE LIMITS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,560 hours in all; 820 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 13,185 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,667 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 16, 1987; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,000 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Scranton AR at 11:25 am
- Destination: Clarksville AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from FSM, 40 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.