# Accident 20200528011569A: Aero Commander 500 S, Aniak, AK, May 28, 2020 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: May 28, 2020, 12:25 local time - Place: Aniak, AK - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.5817° N, 159.5431° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5817&lon=-159.5431&mi=10 - Aircraft: N909AK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N909AK-2023-01-12) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Aero Commander 500 S (registry code 0141107, https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-s) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500 S - People aboard: 4 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 4 - Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA050) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200528011569A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. AIRCRAFT STOP FOR REFUELING, AND PILOT ON 28 MAY 2020, AROUND 1600 ALASKA TIME, AN AERO COMMANDER AIRPLANE, N909AK SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT CLOSE TO ANIAK, ALASKA. THE PILOT AND THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED A FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 PUBLIC AIRCRAFT FLIGHT. THE AIRPLANEIS OWNED BY THE STATE OF ALASKA, AND OPERATED BY THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, AFTER ARRIVING IN ANIAK, HE HAD THE FUEL VENDOR'S GROUND SERVICE PERSONNEL REFUEL THE AIRPLANE. HE THEN SIGNED THE FUEL RECEIPT, AND HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPLANE'S COCKPIT TO COMPLETE PAPERWORK BEFORE DEPARTURE. ONCE THE PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETE, HE THEN LOADED HIS PASSENGERS, STARTED THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINES, AND TAXIED TO RUNWAY 29 FOR DEPARTURE. THE PILOT SAID THAT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AND DURING INITIAL CLIMB, HE INITIALLY NOTICED WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS MECHANICAL TURBULENCE FOLLOWED BY A REDUCTION IN CLIMB PERFORMANCE, AND THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINES BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND WHILE DESCENDING ABOUT 400 FT PER MINUTE, HE SELECTED AN AREA OF SHALLOW WATER COVERED TERRAIN AS AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE. THE LAST THING THE PILOT REMEMBERED OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS GUIDING THE AIRPLANE TO THE OFF-AIRPORT LANDING SITE. ACCORDING TO THE FUEL VENDORS FUEL TRUCK DRIVER, HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPLANE, SO HE QUERIED THE PILOT AS TO WHERE HE SHOULD ATTACH THE GROUNDING STRAP AND THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL FILLER PORT. BEFORE STARTING TO REFUEL THE AIRPLANE, HE ASKED THE PILOT "DO YOU WANT PRIST WITH YOUR JET" TO WHICH THE PILOT RESPONDED THAT HE DID NOT. AFTER COMPLETING THE REFUELING PROCESS, HE RETURNED TO HIS TRUCK, WROTE "JET A" IN THE METER READINGS SECTION OF THE PREPARED RECEIPT, AND PRESENTED IT TO THE PILOT FOR HIS SIGNATURE. THE PILOT SIGNED THE RECEIPT AND WAS PROVIDED A COPY. THE FUELER STATED THAT HE LATER ADDED "NO PRIST" TO HIS COPY OF THE RECEIPT. THE AIRPLANE IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO, LYCOMING IO-540 SERIES ENGINES. THAT THE RECIPROCATING ENGINE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN INADVERTENTLY SERVICED WITH JET A FUEL. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC20LA050](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20LA050), May 29, 2020: Rockwell 500 (N909AK), Aniak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the use of improper fuel. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot and ground personnel to ensure that the airplane was serviced with the proper fuel. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.