# NTSB LAX99LA122: Aero Commander 500B, Shelter Cove, CA, March 19, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 18, 1999, 18:35 local (Mar 19, 1999, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Shelter Cove, CA - Coordinates: 40.070041, -123.919555 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0700&lon=-123.9196&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45980 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA122 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45980/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA122 ## Probable cause Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's failure to ensure that an adequate fuel supply was onboard. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - all engines - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel supply - not verified, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Ditching, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis Prior to departure the pilot believed that his airplane contained between 30 and 40 gallons of fuel, adequate for a 15-minute-long flight to another airport where he could purchase additional fuel. The pilot reported the fuel gauge registered 40 gallons, so he departed. During initial climb upon reaching an altitude of about 400 feet above the ocean, both engines simultaneously lost power. The pilot rocked the airplane's wings and experienced a 'short surge of power.' However, it lasted only a brief moment and all engine power was again totally lost. The pilot turned toward the shoreline, reduced airspeed, and ditched about 0.25 miles off shore. The overnight tide/wave action subsequently beached most of the airplane. In the pilot's report, he did not indicate having experienced any mechanical malfunctions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined recovered portions of the airframe and engines. In pertinent part, the FAA reported finding no physical evidence of any mechanical malfunction with the examined components. However, because of the airframe damage sustained during immersion in the salt water and the subsequent destruction to components, the Safety Board was unable to document the integrity of the fuel quantity indicator system. ## Factual narrative On March 18, 1999, about 1835 hours Pacific standard time, a Canadian registered Aero Commander 500B, CFBCR, owned and operated by the pilot, experienced a total loss of engine power during initial climb from the Shelter Cove (uncontrolled) Airport, Shelter Cove, California. The pilot ditched the airplane in shallow Pacific Ocean water about 1.5 miles south of the airport, about 0.25 miles off shore. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was performed under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed, and the Canadian airline transport pilot and the passenger were seriously injured. The flight originated from Shelter Cove about 1830. The passenger verbally reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that she had observed the airplane's fuel gauge prior to takeoff, and she recalled it registered a total of about 40 gallons. Because no fuel was available at Shelter Cove, the pilot intended to takeoff and proceed to Willits, about 15 minutes away. In summary, in the pilot's completed report and during a verbal interview, he indicated that based upon his experience flying the airplane, upon departure he anticipated having between 30 and 40 gallons of fuel. During initial climb upon reaching an altitude of about 400 feet, both engines simultaneously lost power. He then rocked the airplane's wings and experienced a "short surge of power." However, it lasted only a brief moment and all engine power was again totally lost to both engines. The pilot turned toward the shoreline, reduced airspeed and ditched. The overnight tide/wave action subsequently beached most of the airplane. In the pilot's report, he did not indicate having experienced any mechanical malfunctions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined recovered portions of the airframe and engines. In pertinent part, the FAA reported finding no physical evidence of any mechanical malfunction with the examined components. (See the attached FAA statement for specific details.) ## Aircraft - Registration: CFBCR (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander 500B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1376-135 - Airframe hours: 11635 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-B1C5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas M. Fisher - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 1998, 26 hours before - Departed: 0Q5 - Destination: 028, WILLITS, CA - Airport: 0Q5, Shelter Cove, runway 12, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport, foreign, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,400 total, 32 in this make and model, 5,200 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 140° at 2 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OQ5, 2 nm away 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.