Aero Commander 100 accident near Priest River, Idaho, August 31, 1986
On August 31, 1986 at about 9:50 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N4156X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Priest River, Idaho (Priest River 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 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
- August 31, 1986 · about 9:50 pm local time
- Place
- Priest River, Idaho · Priest River · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N4156X · registry record · serial 339
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WHILE A THUNDERSTORM WAS WITHIN TWO MILES OF THE AIRPORT. STRONG TURBULENCE WAS PRESENT DURING THE APPROACH BUT THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APPROACH. A STRONG DOWNDRAFT OCCURRED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS ABOUT 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND HARD, SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, BREAKING OFF THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLID A SHORT DISTANCE COMING TO REST TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY 19.
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: 477 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,114 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 3, 1986; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S86 Sand Point ID at 9:35 pm
- Destination: 1S6 Priest River ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,950 ft by 48 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 2:50 pm
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.