# NTSB MKC86LA167: Aero Commander 500-B, N184KC, Emporia, KS, August 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1986, 06:35 local (11:35 UTC)
- Place: Emporia, KS
- Coordinates: 38.409034, -96.189598 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4090&lon=-96.1896&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34228
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC86LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34228/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC86LA167

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, cruise
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS CRUISING AT 6,000 FEET IN IMC WITH LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN AND TURBULENCE WHEN HE HEARD A BANG FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT ENGINE LOSING POWER. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN, THE PROPELLER FEATHERED AND ATC WAS NOTIFIED. ATC CLEARED, AND THE PILOT COMPLIED WITH DESCENT TO 3,000 FEET. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT HE COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE WITH THE OPERATING ENGINE AT FULL POWER AND HE ATTEMPTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 35, DESCENDING 200 T0 300 FEET PER MINUTE AT AN AIRSPEED OF 98 M.P.H. (85 KTS.), ALL THE WHILE TRYING TO RESTART THE LEFT ENGINE. BECAUSE OF LOW VISIBILITY, RAIN, AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC THE PILOT ABANDONED THE APPROACH TO THE HIGHWAY AND LANDED WHEELS UP. IN A PASTURE. ENGINE EXAMINATION AND RUNUP DID NOT REVEAL ANY DISCREPENCIES.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N184KC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184KC-1989-08-16), registration cancelled 1989-08-16, S/N 1227103 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 500-B
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 500-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-500-b) (registry code 0141106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1227-103
- Airframe hours: 10410
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-E1A5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Central Air Charter, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 4, 1985, 80 hours before
- Departed: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO
- Destination: ICT, WICHITA, KS
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,338 total, 900 in this make and model, 6,036 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ICT, 86 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 19860807037839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860807037839A), Aug 7, 1986: Gulstm 500B, Emporia, KS, Substantial damage. The left engine lost power. The aircraft was unable to maintain altitude. No mechanical malfunctions found.

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.