# NTSB GAA15CA262: Aero Commander 500 B, N1010F, The Dalles, OR, August 19, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 19, 2015, 15:07 local (22:07 UTC) - Place: The Dalles, OR - Coordinates: 45.619445, -121.168334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6194&lon=-121.1683&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91991 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91991/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91991 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA262 ## Probable cause A motor vehicle's runway incursion causing the premature rotation of the departing airplane, which resulted in a tail strike. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 104 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/320/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Tailstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091); cases with it: [Aero Commander 500-B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md?model=0141106), [All aircraft, 124 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/091/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, a vehicle entered the runway and he immediately pulled back on the yoke in order to climb and avoid the vehicle. The pilot reported that as the airplane began to rotate, he simultaneously retracted the landing gear, and he felt a "bump" before the airplane lifted off of the runway. The airplane ascended over the incursion vehicle and the pilot avoided a collision. The pilot reported that during the post-flight inspection he checked the landing gear to inspect for damage and he did not find any deficiencies. However, during a subsequent preflight inspection by another crew, it was noticed that the lower aft fuselage was damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom aft fuselage longerons and stringers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, a vehicle entered the runway and he immediately pulled back on the yoke in order to climb and avoid the vehicle. The pilot reported that as the airplane began to rotate, he simultaneously retracted the landing gear, and he felt a "bump" before the airplane lifted off of the runway. The airplane ascended over the incursion vehicle and the pilot avoided a collision. The pilot reported that during the post-flight inspection he checked the landing gear to inspect for damage and he did not find any deficiencies. However, during a subsequent preflight inspection by another crew, it was noticed that the lower aft fuselage was damaged. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the bottom aft fuselage longerons and stringers. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1010F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1010F), registered now, S/N 1403-145 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500 B (B) - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1403-145 - Year built: 1964 - Airframe hours: 9552.6 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating; Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Firefighting, Public use - Operator: Vanarsdale Air Service LLC - Registered owner: Vanarsdale Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2015, 70 hours before - Departed: DLS, The Dalles, OR - Destination: DLS, The Dalles, OR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DLS, Columbia Gorge Rgnl/The Dalles, runway 31, 5,097 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 7,210 total, 611 in this make and model, 6,934 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 78 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.73 inHg - Observed at: KDLS ## 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 20150819014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150819014039A), Aug 19, 2015: Aero Commander 500-B, Dallesport, WA, Substantial damage. At uncontrolled airport pilot made radio call to taxi for takeoff on runway 31. At departure end of 31 pilot made radio call for takeoff from 31. A contractor… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91991. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40434935&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.