20230813013739A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Aero Commander 500 S · Key West, FL · August 13, 2023

Date
August 13, 2023 · 10:20 local
Place
Key West, FL
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N62WE
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA23LA359
Reported as
Aero Commander 500 S
Reported engine
Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
832 total338 in this make and model32 in the last 90 days

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

At approximately 10:20 am, 15 NM, NE of keyw @ 3,000 ft AGL the right engine suddenly stopped, the fuel totalizers stated 48 gallons fuel, contacted ATC and declared an emergency, then, the left engine suddenly stopped. Attempted restart but engines wouldn't start. Pilot feathered the props, pitched for best glide and ditched in the ocean approximately 12NM NE of keyw.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 10:20 AM, 15 NM, NE OF KEYW @ 3,000 FT AGL THE RIGHT ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED, THE FUEL TOTALIZERS STATED 48 GALLONS FUEL, CONTACTED ATC AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, THEN, THE LEFT ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. ATTEMPTED RESTART BUT ENGINES WOULDN'T START. PILOT FEATHERED THE PROPS, PITCHED FOR BEST GLIDE AND DITCHED IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 12NM NE OF KEYW.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.