# NTSB DEN81FA008: Aero Cmdr 500B, N6395U, Buffalo, WY, October 17, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 17, 1980
- Place: Buffalo, WY · BUFFALO, WY
- Location: 44.3385° N, 106.7153° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Buffalo, WY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3385&lon=-106.7153&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 26, 1982
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 128449
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN81FA008
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3786  80/10/17   BUFFALO,WY          AERO CMDR 500B      CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 26, 1045
        TIME - 2335                    N6395U              PX-  3  0  0  PLEASURE/PERSONAL TRANSP  TOTAL HOURS, 451 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BUFFALO
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BUFFALO,WY                  HURON,SD
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
          PLT-FAILED TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1 MILE OR LESS                                           SNOW
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          BLOWING SNOW                                             IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          NONE
        REMARKS- MIXTURES FOUND FULL RICH.ARPT ELEV 4951FT.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N6395U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6395U-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 1472-168, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO CMDR 500B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Buffalo

## 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 19801017057829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801017057829A), Oct 17, 1980: Rkwell 500B, Buffalo, WY, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Aircraft crashed during takeoff. Hit fence off end of runway and crashed 584 feet from end of runway.

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.

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