# NTSB LAX02LA001: Aero Commander 500, N7846C, Petaluma, CA, October 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2001, 22:00 local (Oct 8, 2001, 05:00 UTC) - Place: Petaluma, CA - Coordinates: 38.209976, -122.759231 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2100&lon=-122.7592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flt Stnds Dist Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 53611 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA001 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53611/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA001 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent (dark, nighttime) VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions and subsequent loss of altitude control. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight weather evaluation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - tree(s) - light condition - dark night - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - vfr flight into imc - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The noninstrument rated pilot reported that he received a weather briefing and that visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed at his destination, 31 miles to the southeast. It was a dark, moonless, night but stars were visible in the sky at the departure airport with haze to the west. Lights were visible 10 miles to the south. The pilot departed on runway 29 and made a right, downwind departure. During the departure turn, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions at about 900 feet. He reported that while in the clouds he had difficulty leveling the wings and there was "some altitude fluctuation." During this time there was a "pop" sound and the aircraft became difficult to control. He broke out on top of the clouds at 2,700 feet and proceeded to landing at his original destination. Control of the aircraft required him to input full right rudder control, 90 percent of available right aileron control, and to reduce power on the right engine. Inspection of the left wing revealed damage to the outboard 5 feet of the wing leading edge and embedded tree debris. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2001, at 2200 hours Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander 500, N7846C, impacted trees during climb out after takeoff from Petaluma, California. The private pilot and two passengers were not injured. The left wing of the airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operated by the owner under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight departed from Petaluma at 2200, and was destined for Concord, California, where it landed about 2220. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at Oakland, California, 36 miles southeast of Petaluma; however, the pilot reported that visual conditions prevailed at Petaluma and Concord. No flight plan was filed. In his report to the Safety Board, the noninstrument rated pilot reported that he received a weather briefing and that visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed at his destination, 31 miles to the southeast. It was a dark, moonless, night but stars were visible in the sky at the departure airport with haze to the west. Lights were visible 10 miles to the south. The pilot departed on runway 29 and made a right, downwind departure. During the departure turn, he encountered instrument meteorological conditions at about 900 feet. He reported that while in the clouds he had difficulty leveling the wings and there was "some altitude fluctuation." During this time there was a "pop" sound and the aircraft became difficult to control. He broke out on top of the clouds at 2,700 feet and proceeded to landing at Concord, his original destination. Control of the aircraft required him to input full right rudder control, 90 percent of available right aileron control, and to reduce power on the right engine. Inspection of the left wing revealed damage to the outboard 5 feet of the wing leading edge and embedded tree debris. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7846C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7846C-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N 724, built 1963 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 500 - Registry model: [Aero Commander 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500) (registry code 0141102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 724 - Airframe hours: 12300 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A2B 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ben J. Pfaff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2001, 5 hours before - Departed: O69, Petaluma, CA - Destination: CCR, Concord, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 12, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 117 in this make and model, 226 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark - Wind: 280° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 900 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: OAK, 36 nm away ## Other investigations on N7846C (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN68F0069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN68F0069), Jul 20, 1967: Aero Comdr 500 (N7846C), Albuquerque, NM, substantial damage 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.