Aero Commander 500S N19WL

Summary

On 14 April 2003 at about 15:40 local time, a Aero Commander 500S registered N19WL, operated by John William Madden, was involved in an accident near Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 April 2003 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

East Cooper (8S5)

Coordinates

32.8978, -79.7828

Aircraft

Aero Commander 500S

Registration

N19WL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

John William Madden

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Public Use

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mount Pleasant → Mount Pleasant

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL03TA078

2 people were seriously injured.

The improper refueling of the airplane by airport personnel with the incorrect fuel grade that resulted in a total loss in engine power on both engines during initial climb. A factor was the inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot in command.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he requested the refueler to top off his fuel tanks with "100 low lead fuel". After refueling, the pilot performed a preflight including taking fuel samples from under the wings, draining the rear fuel drain, and checking the fuel cap for security. The engine start, run-up, and taxi were uneventful. The airplane departed runway 17 and was in a positive rate of climb. At approximately 200 feet AGL the airplane began to lose power. Shortly after the pilot ensured that the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls were in the full forward position, the airplane lost power in both engines. The pilot executed an emergency off field landing. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing had broken off and the aft cabin area was crushed. According to the refueler, he stated that he mistakenly used the Jet-A fuel truck instead of the AVGAS 100 low lead truck, and pumped 58 gallons of Jet-A into the airplane. Examination of the fuel samples taken from both engines revealed the left and right engine contained 70 percent of jet A fuel.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.