# NTSB ATL02LA046: Aero Commander 500U, N441WW, Copperhill, TN, February 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2002, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Copperhill, TN - Coordinates: 35.021667, -84.46833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0217&lon=-84.4683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Nashville FSDO -03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 54196 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54196/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54196 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion and a subsequent collision with trees during emergency landing on unsuitable terrain ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - all engines - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A witness heard the airplane's engines make "sputtering" engine noises that cut out and quit prior to its impact with the wooded terrain. A sheriff's deputy who responded to the scene heard the pilot state the airplane ran out of fuel. The propeller blades of both engines displayed minor damage, and both propeller spinners were found intact and in place. No evidence of fuel odor nor fuel leakage was observed at the accident site. During examination, both engines were supplied fuel and a source of electricity. Each engine operated smoothly during testing at rpm ranging from idle to 1900. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2002, about 1530 eastern standard time, an Aero Commander 500U, N441WW, registered to Aircenter, Inc., and operated by the pilot, collided with wooded terrain in the Big Frog Wilderness area of the Cherokee National Forest near Copperhill, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the commercial pilot received serious injuries. The flight departed Andrews-Murphy Airport in Andrews, North Carolina, at 1430. The flight was en route to Barwick La Fayette Airport in La Fayette, Georgia. A witness who heard the airplane flying low in the vicinity of the accident site reported the airplane made "sputtering" engine noises that cut out and quit prior to its collision with the wooded terrain. A Polk County Sheriff's Department deputy who responded to the scene observed Life Force helicopter rescue personnel administer care to the pilot. The deputy and other witnesses reported hearing the pilot state the airplane ran out of fuel. Examination of the wreckage revealed the tail was separated from the fuselage aft of the wings. Both wings and both engines were found separated as one unit lodged vertically in a stand of pine trees. The nose section of the airframe was crushed, and the pilot's seat was found separated in the woods near the main wreckage. The landing gear handle was found in the down position, the left main landing gear was found in the down and locked position, and the right main landing gear and nose gear sustained impact damage. The propeller blades of both engines displayed minor damage, and both propeller spinners were found intact and in place. No evidence of fuel odor nor fuel leakage was observed at the accident site, and fuel was not observed during recovery efforts. Both engines were examined at a recovery facility on July 12, 2002. The wreckage was supported upright and secured, provisions were made for the fuel supply, and electrical power was supplied to the starter. The left propeller was removed and a test club propeller was installed. Both engines were operated separately for a period of about two minutes each. After clearing and warm up, each engine operated smoothly during testing at rpm ranging from idle to 1900. The upper rpm range of both engines was limited for the safety of personnel. Magneto checks were equal, with about 100 rpm drop from 1700 rpm, and both engines idled smoothly at 700 rpm. Requests for information sent to the pilot via certified mail to his home and his business were not complied with. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N441WW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N441WW-2004-05-03), registration cancelled 2004-05-03, S/N 500U-1641-4, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 500U - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-U](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-u) (registry code 0141108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 500-1641-4 - Airframe hours: 7703 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540 E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Gary Lynn Gadberry - Registered owner: Aircenter, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 12, 2001 - Departed: RHP, Andrews, NC - Destination: 9A5, Lafayette, GA - Airport: 9A5, Barwick Lafayette ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 22, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 11,805 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 40 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 36 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020212001699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020212001699A), Feb 12, 2002: Gulstm 500U, Copperhill, TN, No damage. (.19) On February 12, 2002, about 1530 eastern standard time, an aero commander 500U, N441WW, registered to aircenter, inc., collided with wooded terrain in… ## Docket (12 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54196. 5.3 MB in all. - Witness Statement (item 1, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Record of Telephone Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts of Engine Logs (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Engine%20Logs-Redacted.PDF - Excerpts of Airframe Log (item 4, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Airframe%20Log-Redacted.PDF - Brief Summary of Engine Run from Lycoming (item 5, .PDF, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Brief%20Summary%20of%20Engine%20Run%20from%20Lycoming-Redacted.PDF - Copies of Letters Requesting 6120.1/2 with Certified Mail Receipts (item 6, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Copies%20of%20Letters%20Requesting%206120.1%2F2%20with%20Certified%20Mail%20Receipts-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - On-scene, top of fuselage. No negative available. (item 7, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20On-scene,%20top%20of%20fuselage.%20%20No%20negative%20available.-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - On-scene, bottom of fuselage. No negative available. (item 8, .PDF, 889 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20On-scene,%20bottom%20of%20fuselage.%20%20No%20negative%20available.-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Left propeller blades removed. (item 9, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179755&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20propeller%20blades%20removed.-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Left engine runing. (item 10, .PDF, 293 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Left%20engine%20runing.-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Right propeller blades. (item 11, .PDF, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Right%20propeller%20blades.-Master.PDF - Photo 6 - Right engine running. (item 12, .PDF, 287 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40179759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206%20-%20Right%20engine%20running.-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.