Aero Commander 112 N1018J
6 August 1994 · Mohave Valley, Arizona, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 6 August 1994 at about 22:45 local time, a Aero Commander 112 registered N1018J was involved in an accident near Mohave Valley, Arizona, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 22:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mohave Valley, Arizona, United States
- Nearest airport
- Laughlin/Bullhead City (IFP)
- Coordinates
- 34.8603, -114.5092
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 112
- Registration
- N1018J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bullhead City → Mesa
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- LAX94FA309
People
3 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Failure of the certified flight instructor to properly judge the flare to avert a hard landing, and the failure of other maintenance personnel to properly repair the engine case halves during engine overhaul. A factor in the accident was the uneven relief of the desert terrain.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND FLIPPED OVER IN A DESERT WASH AFTER A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THE NUMBER 4 PISTON CONNECTING ROD FAILED AS A RESULT OF LACK OF LUBRICATION. FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THE ENGINE CRANKCASE HALVES WERE REPAIRED DURING THE LAST ENGINE OVERHAUL. THE CASE HALVES WERE WELDED IN THE NUMBER 3 MAIN BEARING (CENTER) AND NUMBER 4 MAIN BEARING (REAR) BOSSES. THE OIL SUPPLY HOLE THAT SUPPLIES OIL TO THE NUMBER 4 CONNECTING ROD WAS FOUND WELDED OVER AND NOT BORED AFTER THE REPAIR. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHAULED 1,420 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Commander 112 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1993 | Aero Commander 112 | Camarillo, California, United States | Albert L. Seamands | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Dec 1995 | Aero Commander 112 | Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 21 Jul 1993 | Aero Commander 112 | Broadway, North Carolina, United States | Johnson, Charles O. | Minor injuries | - |
| 11 Dec 1995 | Aero Commander 112 | Memphis, Tennessee, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 1997 | Aero Commander 112 | Kettle Falls, Washington, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Aero Commander 112 | Boulder City, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1994 | Cessna 210L | Payson, Arizona, United States | Dairy Queen of S. Arizona, Inc | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 1994 | James B Edwards COZY | Skull Valley, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Sep 1994 | Robinson R-22 | Benson, Arizona, United States | Same AS Registered Owner | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Bell 206-B3 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | U.s. Forest Service | Unknown | - |
| 4 Jan 1994 | Bell 206B | Coolidge Dam, Arizona, United States | Southwest Helicopters, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Nov 1994 | Cessna 172K | Springerville, Arizona, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |