Aero Commander 500 S accident near Daytona Beach, FL
On May 25, 2009, an Aero Commander 500 S (airplane) was involved in an accident near Daytona Beach, FL. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 25, 2009
- Place
- Daytona Beach, FL
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500 S · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 29.185°N, 81.046°W
- NTSB ID
- 20090525X10534
Official records · ERA09FA303
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 25, 2009, at 0846 eastern daylight time, an Aero Commander 500S, N73U, operated by Commonwealth Aviation Corporation, was substantially damaged following a loss of engine power and collision with terrain during a forced landing after takeoff from Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB), Daytona Beach, Florida. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, and the pilot-rated passenger was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight that departed about 0843, and was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to information provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the airplane was cleared for takeoff from runway 7R at DAB. About 1 minute after takeoff, the pilot reported "an engine failure" and announced his intention to return for landing on runway 25R. Witnesses in the vicinity of the airport, approximately 1/2 mile beyond the departure end of the runway, reported the engine noise from the accident airplane was "surging" as the airplane passed overhead, and one witness described a "radical" turn back to the airport. Two witnesses at their motorcycle repair shop stated that only one engine was running. They added that the engine was "revving," and would then "conk out" before revving up again. As the engine surged, the airplane would "shuffle left and right." One witness described the airplane "just hanging there" as it turned back to the airport. The airplane flew west out of view before it crashed on the 1,000-foot grass safe
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection.
More accidents in FL
- Grumman G-73T, Dec 19, 2005
- Beech B90, Jan 5, 1994
- Beech B-90, Sep 3, 1999
- Cessna 182B, Feb 7, 1982
- Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12/47, Jun 7, 2012
Browse: Florida · 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.
