Aero Commander 200D accident near La Grange, Texas, May 27, 2014
On May 27, 2014 at about 8:40 pm local time, a 1967 Aero Commander 200D, registered N200D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near La Grange, Texas (Fayette Rgnl Air Center airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2014 · about 8:40 pm local time · cases in 2014
- Place
- La Grange, Texas · Fayette Rgnl Air Center · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 200D, built 1967 · all 200Ds on the register
- Registration
- N200D · registry record · serial 379
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the airplane's engine began to run roughly. He then observed no pressure on the oil pressure gauge, and smoke entered the cockpit. The pilot shut down the engine and attempted to glide the airplane to the nearest airport. However, the pilot determined that the airplane would not make the runway and subsequently performed a forced landing to a field. A postaccident on-scene examination revealed damage to the engine's crankcase consistent with oil starvation. The airplane was repaired and the engine disposed of before a thorough examination could be conducted. The reason for the oil starvation could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure other cases naming the engine
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure other cases naming the engine
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,420 hours in all; 388.7 in this make and model; 21.7 in the last 90 days; 10.3 in the last 30 days; 2,553.6 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 10, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,264.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 3, 2014; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A (piston); 2,521 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CWF Lake Charles LA at 7:00 pm
- Destination: T82 Fredericksburg TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from K3T5, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 22, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo 1 Damage Overview | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photo 2 Engine Damage | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | CEN14LA263 Mfr | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N200D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N200D on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Aero Commander 200 56 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-520-A 8 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fayette Regional Air Center · nearest airport
- Chennault International · departed from
- Gillespie County · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,065 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,960 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N200D 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN14LA263.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.