Aero Commander AC-500A accident near Ketchikan, AK
On September 6, 1997, an Aero Commander AC-500A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ketchikan, AK. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 6, 1997
- Place
- Ketchikan, AK
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander AC-500A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 55.610°N, 131.579°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08758
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 6, 1997, about 1300 Alaska daylight time, a Twin Commander AC-500A airplane, N543AN, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain about twenty-eight miles north of Ketchikan, Alaska. The private pilot and the sole passenger sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight from Wrangell, Alaska, to Everett, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the general vicinity of the accident site, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed Wrangell between 1200 and 1300. Cruise altitude of the airplane, and the intended route of flight is unknown. There are no known witnesses to the accident. The exact purpose of the flight is unknown. The sole passenger was the pilot's wife. She was seated in the aft cabin seat. Acquaintances of the couple stated to the NTSB investigator that she regularly would fly with her husband, and preferred to sit in this location. Located with her was their dog. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The airplane came to rest with the main fuselage, right wing, and both engines, approximately 2,000 feet from the tail section. The outboard 129 inches of the left wing was not located. Several small, light, sheet metal pieces were located downwind of the tail section. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 81-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with airplane, single and multiengine, land and sea, and instrument ratings. His original private pilot certificate was issued on August 30, 1945, with an airplane-single engine rating. He obtained a multiengine rating on July 10, 1961
Probable cause
The rupture of the right engine fuel supply line as a result of inadequate inspection by the pilot/mechanic, and the pilot's excessive pull up which resulted in exceeding the design stress limits of the airplane. Factors were the improper emergency procedures and failure to feather the propeller.
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Browse: Alaska · 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.
