FTW96LA346

NTSB accident investigation · Aero Commander S2R · Hatch, NM · August 11, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 11, 1996, 00:00 local (06:00 UTC)
Place
Hatch, NM
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N8992QAero Commander S2R
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 18, 1997
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19960811045499A
Case key
19944

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerManeuvering
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
On ground/water collision with objectEmergency descent/landing
Object - fence
Terrain condition - none suitableCause

Analysis

The FAA inspector reported that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot executed a forced landing on a river levee. During the landing roll out, the right wing impacted a pole resulting in structural damage to the wing and flap. There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. The pilot did not possess a Part 137 certificate for aerial application. The pilot did not return any of the several NTSB accident report forms that were sent to his last known address. Several telephone messages left for the pilot were unanswered and his current telephone number is unlisted.

Factual narrative

On August 11, 1996, at an unknown mountain daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N8992Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Hatch, New Mexico. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The aerial application airplane was being operated by the owner, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from the Hatch Municipal Airport at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the non-certificated aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed.

The FAA inspector reported that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power and the pilot executed a forced landing on a river levee. During the landing roll out, the right wing impacted a pole resulting in structural damage to the wing and flap.

There were no reported eyewitnesses to the accident. A review of the FAA files revealed that at the time of the accident the pilot's flight physical had expired. Furthermore, the pilot did not possess a Part 137 certificate for aerial application.

The pilot did not return any of the several NTSB 6120.1/2 Forms that were sent to his last known address. Several telephone messages left for the pilot were unanswered and his current telephone number is unlisted.

Aircraft

Registration
N8992Q
Reported as
Aero Commander S2R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1662R
Engine
P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Marc A. South
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Departed
EO5

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
45
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Expired
Seat
Front
Flight hours
8,000 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.