Aero Commander AC-100 accident near Alderwood Manor, Washington, May 24, 1987
On May 24, 1987 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander AC-100, registered N3768X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alderwood Manor, Washington (Martha Lake airport). It was a personal 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
- May 24, 1987 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alderwood Manor, Washington · Martha Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander AC-100
- Registration
- N3768X · no longer on the register · serial 260
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF ON A SHORT 1700 FOOT AIRSTRIP UNDER NO WIND CONDITIONS, CLOSE TO GROSS WEIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT RECOGNIZED THIS AND REDUCED POWER FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ONTO AN ADJACENT FIELD. A HARD LANDING THEN RESULTED.
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: 3,016 hours in all; 405 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,990 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,426 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 1987; 7 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: S13 Alderwood Manor WA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: WA72 Yelm WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 1,700 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.