Aero Commander 500B accident near Tulsa, OK
On January 17, 2008, an Aero Commander 500B (airplane) was involved in an accident near Tulsa, OK. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 17, 2008
- Place
- Tulsa, OK
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500B · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 36.226°N, 95.889°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080129X00119
Official records · DFW08FA056
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 16, 2008, at 2043 central standard time, a twin-engine Aero Commander 500-B airplane, registered as N712AT, was destroyed during an in-flight break-up and subsequent impact with terrain following a loss of control after take-off from Runway 36L at the Tulsa International Airport, near Tulsa, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Central Air Southwest, Inc., of Kansas City, Missouri, and was being utilized as an on demand air-carrier flight, hauling canceled bank checks. Dark night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time for the cargo flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed and activated for the 94-nautical mile night cross-country flight from the Tulsa International Airport (TUL) to the Wiley Post Airport (PWA), near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Authorities at the airport reported that soon after departing TUL, the pilot reported that he was having gyro problems. The airplane was observed on radar and was given instructions to turn left to 300 degrees. The pilot initiated a right turn and was informed by Tulsa approach control that "you are turning right, turn left to 300 degrees." The aircraft continued a steep right turn for two complete 360 degree turns and disappeared from the radar scope. The wreckage of the airplane was located about 90 minutes after the accident in a remote wooded area of Mohawk Park, approximately 1 3/4 miles north of the airp
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation and the pilot exceeding the design/stress limits of the aircraft. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's reported gyro problem, the dark night conditions , and prevailing instrument meteorological conditions.
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Browse: Oklahoma · 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.
