Aero Commander 200D N2912T

Summary

On 31 August 2024 at about 22:50 local time, a Aero Commander 200D registered N2912T, operated by Krahling Jeffrey B, was involved in an accident near Novato, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

31 August 2024 at 22:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Novato, California, United States

Nearest airport

Gnoss Fld (DVO)

Coordinates

38.1425, -122.5574

Aircraft

Aero Commander 200D

Registration

N2912T

Category

Airplane

Year built

1966

Engines

1

Operator

Krahling Jeffrey B

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Redding

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR24FA290

1 person died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On August 31, 2024, about 1550 Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander 200D, N2912T, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident at Gnoss Field Airport (DVO), Novato, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Family members reported that the pilot had flown to Novato from Redding, California, earlier that day. They spent a few hours with the pilot before he returned to the airport and departed on the accident flight. They further stated that he was quite familiar with DVO and had been flying to the airport for years. A witness who was taxiing his airplane on the parallel taxiway at DVO reported observing the accident airplane as it rose momentarily a few ft off the runway after its takeoff roll then veer left on the runway into the runway safety area (RSA). The accident airplane continued across the RSA, over the parallel taxiway, and touched down on the grass covered area between the parallel taxiway and ramp near the intersection at taxiway Charlie. Another witness who was taxiing from the ramp and approaching the intersection saw the airplane impact the grassy area about 10 ft in front of their position. Both witnesses observed the airplane become airborne and continue inflight until it impacted the hangar, where a post impact fire ensued a few seconds later. Another witness who was located near the hangars reported that the engine sounded as though it was developing plenty of power before impact. Examination of the accident site revealed 3 rubber tire marks near the center of the runway, about 215 ft from the edge of the displaced threshold of runway 31. (See Figure 1.) The tire marks continued to the left side of the runway and into the RSA. Loose displaced grass was observed on the runway edge An area of disturbed grass and dirt ground scars, consistent with contact from the main landing gear tires extended from the runway edge, through the RSA, toward the ramp area. The ground scars continued into the grassy area between the parallel taxiway and ramp, where a taxiway light was found damaged. Figure 1-Aerial view of the airport and accident site. The airplane impacted the eastern edge of a hangar row and was mostly consumed by post impact fire. The empennage was mostly separated from the fuselage, however, remained attached by the elevator trim and elevator control cables. The right wing had extensive thermal damage and only the inboard wing steel structure remained. The outboard left wing had impact damage and remained attached to the inboard wing steel structure. The engine and propeller remained attached to fuselage and had extensive thermal damage. The cabin area was mostly consumed by fire. The wreckage was relocated to a secure facility for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.