Aero Commander 500 accident near Florence, South Carolina, November 17, 1984
On November 17, 1984 at about 5:05 pm local time, a Aero Commander 500, registered N6268B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Florence, South Carolina (Florence CO. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 17, 1984 · about 5:05 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, South Carolina · Florence CO. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500 · all 500s on the register
- Registration
- N6268B · no longer on the register · serial 812
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RWY AFTER BOTH ENGINES LOST POWER ON THE BASE LEG. TH ACFT HIT ABOUT 200 FT SHORT OF THE RWY AND SLID THROUGH THE FENCE ONTO THE RWY DESTROYING ABOUT 4 RWY LIGHTS. INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED THAT THE LEFT FUEL STRAINER DRAIN WAS OPEN AND ONLY ABOUT 1 CUP OF FUEL REMAINED IN THE ACFT FUEL SYSTEM. THE PLT SAID THAT THE ACFT HAD 5 HOURS FUEL ON BOARD AT TAKEOFF FOR THE 3 HOUR FLT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE FUEL GAGE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE THEY FOUND 2 OPEN BEER CANS ON THE FLOOR OF THE COCKPIT. NO TOXICOLOGY EXAM WAS CONDUCTED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 1,703 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,755 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 24, 1983; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Staunton VA at 1:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,449 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:11 pm from FLO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.