Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Oak Hill, Florida 32759
Monday, September 9, 1985 19:35 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PLT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLT IN HIS RECENTLY PURCHASED ACFT. THE PLT STATED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE FULL PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINS AFTER TAKE-OFF, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO SWITCH FROM THE RIGHT FUEL TANK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK. SECONDS LATER, THE ENG LOST POWER & ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE ENG FAILED. AN EMERG DESCENT WAS ESTABLISHED & THEACFT CRASHED INTO A WOODED AREA. THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED & THE PLT & HIS PAX SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE ACFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. THE PLT STATED THAT APRX ONEMONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, HE HAD DRAINED APRX ONE PINT OFWATER FROM THE SINGLE DRAIN POINT IN THE FUEL SYST. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, HE STATED THAT HE HAD DRAINED THE FUEL SUMP DURING THE PREFLT INSPECTION & DID NOT OBSERVE ANY WATER. ALTHOUGH BOTH FUEL TANKS RUPTERED ON IMPACT. AN EXAM OF THE LEFT TANK REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/9/1985
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1935
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City OAK HILL
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32759
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1949 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID DAB
Elevation of weather observation facility 35
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2025
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 9 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2055
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 29419
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3684X
NTSB Number MIA85FA248
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AERO COMMANDER
Aircraft Model 100
Aircraft Series Identifier 100
Aircraft Serial Number 326
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 28 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 1832
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MODERN HOME LOG SUPPLY, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 766
Aircraft Owner City MIMS
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32754
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN D. CLARK, III
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4259 ORIOLE AVE.
Operator City WILBUR-BY SEA
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32019
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code X21
Departure City TITUSVILLE
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 34J
Destination City NEW SMYRNA BCH
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --