# NTSB LAX95LA070: Aero Commander 200D, N200AW, Lancaster, CA, January 2, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 1, 1995, 17:10 local (Jan 2, 1995, 01:10 UTC) - Place: Lancaster, CA - Coordinates: 34.719009, -118.479804 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7190&lon=-118.4798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 31, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29008 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA070 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29008/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA070 ## Probable cause fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to select a tank containing fuel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - fuel management - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fuel supply - not selected, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis THE PILOT AND HIS THREE PASSENGERS WERE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT WHEN THEY EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD WHEN A CAR GOT IN THE WAY. THE PILOT THEN SET UP TO LAND IN A DESERT AREA ADJACENT TO THE ROAD. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD AND SHEARED OFF THE LANDING GEAR. A FAA INSPECTOR FOUND THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WAS POSITIONED TO A FUEL TANK THAT WAS EMPTY. THE OTHER THREE FUEL TANKS WERE FULL OF FUEL. THE FUEL PUMP FUNCTIONED NORMALLY WHEN ACTIVATED WITH AIRCRAFT BATTERY POWER, AND THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED TO A TANK CONTAINING FUEL. NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL LINES FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT AND INSTALLED IN A TEST CELL. THE ENGINE STARTED WITHOUT HESITATION AND WAS EXERCISED THROUGHOUT ITS NORMAL POWER RANGE. ## Factual narrative On January 1, 1995, at 1710 Pacific standard time, an Aero Commander 200D, N200AW, collided with the ground during a forced landing attempt in a rural area of Lancaster, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries in the accident and died in a hospital on January 18, 1995. Two of the three passengers incurred minor injuries, while one passenger was not injured. The flight originated at Apple Valley, California, on the day of the accident at 1630 as a personal flight to Rosamond, California. In an oral statement to responding Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, the pilot said the engine quit and he was attempting a forced landing on a road when a car got in the way. The pilot then set up to land in a desert area adjacent to the road. The aircraft landed hard and sheared off the landing gear. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office responded to the scene. He reported that the fuel selector valve was positioned to a right wing fuel tank which was found to be empty. The three remaining fuel tanks in the aircraft were full of fuel. The fuel pump functioned normally when activated with aircraft battery power, and the fuel selector was positioned to a tank containing fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel lines from the firewall to the fuel pump. The engine was removed from the aircraft and sent to the Teledyne Continental factory, where it was installed in a test cell under the supervision of FAA inspectors. The engine started without hesitation and was exercised throughout its normal power range. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200AW-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 383, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 200D - Registry model: [Aero Commander 200D](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-200d) (registry code 0140312) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 383 - Airframe hours: 1330 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David L. White - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1993, 29 hours before - Departed: APV, APPLE VALLEY, CA - Destination: L00, ROSAMOND, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 450 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WJF, 8 nm away ## 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 19950102000029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950102000029A), Jan 2, 1995: Propjt 200D, Lancaster, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Lost power. Tried for road. Blocked by an auto. Landed hard in desert. Fuel selector on empty tank. Others full. ## Other investigations on N200AW (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 SEA85LA157](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA85LA157), Jul 6, 1985: Meyers 2000 (N200AW), Reno, NV, 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.