- Date
- August 18, 1994, 20:42 local (Aug 19, 1994, 03:42 UTC)
- Place
- Firebaugh, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8843QAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940818022469A
- Case key
- 28832
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the loss of engine power due to the failure of the number 2 cylinder head. A factor was the dark night conditions which inhibited the pilot's ability to visually detect ground obstructions in the landing area.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight when the engine lost all power. He landed on the shoulder of a major interstate highway and the left wing collided with a highway signpost. Postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the number 2 cylinder head was cracked.
Factual narrative
On August 18, 1994, at 2042 Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R airplane, N8843Q, collided with a highway signpost during a forced landing near Firebaugh, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a complete loss of power. The aircraft was owned and operated by Tri Air, Inc., of Firebaugh, California, and was engaged in an aerial application operation. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage to the left wing. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from the Firebaugh airport on the evening of the accident at about 2030 hours as a local area aerial application flight.
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight when the engine lost all power. He landed on the shoulder of a major interstate highway and the left wing collided with a highway signpost. Postaccident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the number 2 cylinder head was cracked.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8843Q
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1543R
- Airframe hours
- 10,700
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Tri Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Tri Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 16, 1994 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- Q49
- Destination
- Q49
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
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total · 6,000 in this make and model · 12,000 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.