Aero Commander 500-B N888CA

Summary

On 28 December 2010 at about 03:46 local time, a Aero Commander 500-B registered N888CA, operated by Central Airlines Inc, was involved in an accident near Columbus, Ohio, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

28 December 2010 at 03:46

Classification

Accident

Location

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

40.0797, -83.0728

Aircraft

Aero Commander 500-B

Registration

N888CA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Central Airlines Inc

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Jeffersonville → Columbus

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CEN11CA136

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper fuel management which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the flight, the pilot preflighted the airplane and recalled observing the fuel gauge indicating full; however, he did not visually check the fuel tanks. The airplane departed and the en route portion of the flight was uneventful. During the downwind leg of the circling approach, the engines began to surge and the pilot added full power and turned on the fuel boost pumps. While abeam the approach end of the runway on the downwind leg, the engines again started to surge and subsequently lost power. He executed a forced landing and the airplane impacted terrain short of the runway. A postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the fuselage was buckled in several areas, and the left wing was crushed and bent upward. The fuel tanks were intact and approximately one cup of fuel was drained from the single fuel sump. Fueling records indicated the airplane was fueled 3 days prior to the accident with 135 gallons of fuel or approximately 4 hours of operational time. Flight records indicated the airplane had flown approximately 4 hours since refueling when the engines lost power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.