Aero Commander 500A accident near Livermore, CA
On May 20, 1994, an Aero Commander 500A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Livermore, CA. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 20, 1994
- Place
- Livermore, CA
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 37.681°N, 121.750°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01388
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 19, 1994, at 1754 hours Pacific daylight time (PDT), an Aero Commander 500A, N601MK, registered to Michele M. Mellor, and being flown by Thomas O. Lake, a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a collision with trees, power lines and terrain, six nautical miles southeast of Livermore, California. The pilot, a pilot-rated passenger occupying the front right seat, the aircraft owner, and a fourth passenger (mechanic) were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal in nature, was to have been conducted in accordance with 14CFR91, and originated from the Hayward Airport, Hayward, California, at 1736 hours. After departing the Hayward airport the aircraft proceeded generally south then eastbound toward Lake Del Valle. No further radio communications from the aircraft were received subsequent to its departure. However, a mode "C" 1200 transponder code was received by the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center. The radar data indicated that the aircraft was tracking east southeast bound when, at 1750 hours, a left 180 degree turn was executed and a transition from a climb to a descent was observed. The radius of the turn was approximately 3500 feet. The aircraft continued west northwest until 1753 when a right turn of approximately 55 degrees was executed. The last recorded radar target showed the aircraft at an elevation of 1500 feet above mean sea level (MSL) and approximately 1000 feet southeast of the crash site at 1753:57 (refer to CHART I and ATTACHMENT RD-
Probable cause
A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT (PIC), AND BY THE NON-FLYING PILOT/PASSENGER INTENTIONALLY ALLOWING OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY (FUEL LEAK). A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
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Browse: California · Aero Commander aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
