Aero Commander AC-100-180 accident near Oregon City, Oregon, October 27, 1993
On October 27, 1993, a Aero Commander AC-100-180, registered N3723X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oregon City, Oregon (Fairways Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM TRANSMISSION WIRES. FACTORS INCLUDE LIGHT CONDITIONS AT DUSK, AND TRANSMISSION WIRES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 1993
- Place
- Oregon City, Oregon · Fairways Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander AC-100-180
- Registration
- N3723X · registry record · serial 5028
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT RETURNED TO LAND AT THE PRIVATE GRASS AIRSTRIP, THERE WAS A CROSSWIND BLOWING ACROSS THE MORE COMMONLY USED NORTH/SOUTH RUNWAY. HE THEREFORE CHOSE TO LAND ON THE LESS FREQUENTLY USED EAST/WEST RUNWAY. HE KNEW THAT THERE WERE POWER LINES OFF THE APROACH END OF THIS RUNWAY, BUT HE DID NOT SEE THEM IN THE LOW LIGHT OF DUSK. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE LINES AND CRASHED IN AN OPEN FIELD OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,313 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1993; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A2F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 3,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 120° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; not recorded at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.