EL PASO, TX, USA
N3718X
AERO COMMANDER 100-180
THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE DURING AN ENCOUNTER WITH SEVERE TURBULENCE AFTER CROSSING A RIDGELINE PERPENDICULAR TO HIS ROUTE OF FLIGHT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6500 FEET WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED THE TURBULENCE IN CLEAR AIR. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, BUT THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO LAND UNEVENTFULLY.
On December 12, 1993, at 0924 mountain standard time, an Aero Commander 100-180, N3718X, was substantially damaged following an encounter with severe turbulence while in cruise flight near El Paso, Texas. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the ferry flight. According to the pilot, he was in level flight at 6,500 feet while en route from Deming, New Mexico, to the Tradewinds Airport, near Amarillo, Texas, when he lost control of the airplane, approximately a half a mile after crossing a ridge line running perpendicular to his route of flight. The pilot further stated that he lost 250 feet of altitude during the encounter with clear air turbulence. After recovering, the pilot diverted to the El Paso International Airport, where an uneventful landing was made. Damage to the airplane included a cracked windshield, buckling to the leading edge of the right wing, and collapsing of the two inner ribs of the right wing.
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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