ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 43526
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| Date: | Thursday 19 May 1994 |
| Time: | 18:54 LT |
| Type: |  Aero Commander 500A |
| Owner/operator: | Mellor, Michele, M. |
| Registration: | N601MK |
| MSN: | 500A-1073 |
| Engine model: | CONTINENTAL IO-470-M |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Livermore, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Standing |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Hayward, CA (KHWD) |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT FLOWN FOR 2 YEARS. BEFORE FLIGHT, A MECHANIC SAW EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKING AT DRAIN HOLES IN THE LEFT WING ROOT, JUST AFT OF THE MAIN CABIN DOOR. HE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER, WHO SHORTLY THEREAFTER, DEPARTED IN THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE PILOT (PIC), THE AIRCRAFT OWNER & A PASSENGER/MECHANIC. ABOUT 14 MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, RADAR DATA SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT TRANSITIONING FROM A CLIMB TO A DESCENT, WHILE IN A 180 DEGREE TURN. ALSO, WITNESSES SAW SMOKE/FLAMES TRAILING FROM THE AIRCRAFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TREES & POWER LINES, THEN IT CRASHED IN A SMALL FLAT FIELD IN HILLY TERRAIN. POST-CRASH EXAMINATION REVEALED MELTED ALUMINUM SPATTERS ON THE LEADING EDGE & UNDERSIDE OF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. ALSO, 'FOCALIZED' FIRE DAMAGE WAS NOTED ON THE CABIN BEHIND THE DRAIN HOLES IN THE LEFT WING ROOT. TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL CARBOXYLIC ACID (MARIJUANA) WAS DETECTED IN THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER'S BLOOD (0.004 UG/ML) & URINE (0.010 UG/ML).
Probable Cause: A FUEL SYSTEM LEAK, INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT BY THE PILOT (PIC), AND BY THE NON-FLYING PILOT/PASSENGER INTENTIONALLY ALLOWING OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT WITH A KNOWN DEFICIENCY (FUEL LEAK). A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB SEA94FA121
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2008 10:30 | ASN archive | Added |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:24 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 10-Apr-2024 07:29 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
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