Aero Commander AC-100 accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey, October 26, 1998
On October 26, 1998 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Aero Commander AC-100, registered N5546M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bridgeton, New Jersey (Bucks Airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's failure to properly flare the airplane at touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 1998 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Bridgeton, New Jersey · Bucks Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander AC-100
- Registration
- N5546M · registry record · serial 129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Approximately 10 miles from the destination airport, the pilot activated the pilot controlled lighting, over-flew the airport and identified the winds as calm. The pilot then made a left downwind entry. He completed the downwind, and base, before turning final approximately 3/4 of a mile from the runway, and 500 feet above the ground. Once on final, the pilot select full flaps and slowed the airplane to 70 mph. The airplane touched down flat, but harder then normal on the turf runway, then rolled approximately 8 feet before the nose gear collapsed. The airplane continued straight ahead for approximately 40 feet then smoothly nosed over. Both the pilot and passenger egressed without injury. The night before the accident the pilot made three takeoffs and landings. Also, the pilot had landed at the accident airport approximately 150 times.
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: 210 hours in all; 185 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,192 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 1998; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2G9 Sumerset PA at 9:35 pm
- Destination: 00N Bridgeton NJ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,900 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from ACY, 32 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.