Aero Commander 500B N120EL
29 July 1991 · Hutchinson, Kansas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 29 July 1991 at about 12:12 local time, a Aero Commander 500B registered N120EL, operated by Central Air-Southwest, was involved in an accident near Hutchinson, Kansas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 12:12
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hutchinson, Kansas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Hutchinson (HUT)
- Coordinates
- 38.0598, -97.9095
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500B
- Registration
- N120EL
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Central Air-Southwest
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Dodge City
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI91LA227
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE LANDING GEAR HANDLE WAS PLACED IN THE GEAR UP POSTION PREMATURELY RESULTING IN A GEAR RETRACTION DURING TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE PROPER PROCEDURES WERE NOT FOLLOWED BY THE PILOT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PILOT SAID THAT HE INADVERTENTLY PLACED THE GEAR SELECTOR IN THE 'GEAR UP' POSITION PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. DURING THE GROUND RUN THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Commander 500 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 1991 | Aero Commander 500-698 | Atlantic Ocean | Palm Beach Aviation | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 1991 | Aero Commander 500B | Silica, Kansas, United States | Dewey E. Tower | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Nov 1992 | Aero Commander 500-B | McCook, Nebraska, United States | Dewey Towner | Serious injuries | - |
| 7 Feb 1992 | Aero Commander 500S | Richmond Hts., Ohio, United States | Michael Stanton-Hicks | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jan 1993 | Aero Commander 500-B | Susank, Kansas, United States | Central Airlines, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Feb 1989 | Aero Commander 500U | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 May 1991 | Beechcraft 58P | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Airparts Company, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Rans S-11 PURSUIT | Hays, Kansas, United States | Randall J. Schlitter | Serious injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1991 | Cessna A-188 | Harper, Kansas, United States | Midwest AG, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 May 1991 | Cessna A188B | Mingo, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Piper PA-36-300 | Oakley, Kansas, United States | John Holzmeister | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1991 | Grumman G-164A | Sharon Springs, Kansas, United States | James L. Bussen | No injuries | - |