Aero Commander 685 accident near Victoria, TX
On June 15, 2013, an Aero Commander 685 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Victoria, TX. 3 people were seriously injured. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 15, 2013
- Place
- Victoria, TX
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 685 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 0 fatal, 3 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 28.844°N, 96.905°W
- NTSB ID
- 20130617X33740
Official records · CEN13FA352
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 15, 2013, at 0947 central daylight time, the crew of an Aero Commander 685, N74CP, made a forced landing in a field after both engines lost power after takeoff from Victoria Regional Airport (KVCT), Victoria, Texas. The two pilots and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to Aero Investments, LLC, Cheyenne, Wyoming, but was reportedly sold to Ruth Trinh, Garden Grove, California, and was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The right seat pilot made the takeoff on runway 13L. Both engine parameters were 44.5 inches manifold pressure, 3,400 rpm, and 270 to 280 pph (pounds per hour) fuel flow. The airplane was rotated for liftoff at blue line. Immediately thereafter, manifold pressure dropped to 24 inches on the left engine and 28 inches on the right engine. Shortly thereafter, manifold pressure fell below 20 inches on both engines. Both engines maintained 3,400 RPM, but fuel flow dropped to 200 and 250 pph on the left and right engines, respectively. The pilot assumed control and made a forced landing in an open field east of the airport. The airplane landed hard, collapsing the nose landing gear, and slid 370 feet and pivoted more than 90 degrees to the right before coming to a stop. The tower controller said the airplane's takeoff roll was unusually long, approximately 6,000 feet. When asked
Probable cause
Maintenance personnel's failure to secure the left engine idler pin during overhaul, which resulted in a catastrophic engine failure and subsequent forced landing.
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Browse: Texas · 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.
