What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aero commander 500, N8498C collided with a ditch during landing roll at the fernando luis ribas dominicci airport, San Juan, PR. The pilot stated that after takeoff, at approximately 1,000 feet above AGL, the main gear would not retract and he noticed the hydraulic pressure gauge indicating zero pressure. He selected gear down, observed three green lights, used the hydraulic emergency hand operated pump, and turned back to the airport. On final approach he slowed the airplane to approximately 85 miles per hour, touched down and started to pumping the emergency hydraulic pump for the brakes with no success. Unable to stop the airplane, it collided with a ditch beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot with four passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AERO COMMANDER 500, N8498C COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING LANDING ROLL AT THE FERNANDO LUIS RIBAS DOMINICCI AIRPORT, SAN JUAN, PR. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FEET ABOVE AGL, THE MAIN GEAR WOULD NOT RETRACT AND HE NOTICED THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE GAUGE INDICATING ZERO PRESSURE. HE SELECTED GEAR DOWN, OBSERVED THREE GREEN LIGHTS, USED THE HYDRAULIC EMERGENCY HAND OPERATED PUMP, AND TURNED BACK TO THE AIRPORT. ON FINAL APPROACH HE SLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO APPROXIMATELY 85 MILES PER HOUR, TOUCHED DOWN AND STARTED TO PUMPING THE EMERGENCY HYDRAULIC PUMP FOR THE BRAKES WITH NO SUCCESS. UNABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE, IT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WITH FOUR PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.