Aero Commander 500 S accident near Jennings, Louisiana, June 25, 2021
On June 25, 2021 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 1969 Aero Commander 500 S, registered N9038N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Jennings, Louisiana (Jennings Muni airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2021 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jennings, Louisiana · Jennings Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500 S, built 1969 · all 500 Ss on the register
- Registration
- N9038N · no longer on the register · serial 3050
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that as he was landing from a visual approach at his destination airport, he realized he had failed to extend the landing gear and the airplane landed with the landing gear retracted. The airplane skidded down the runway, departed the runway surface and hit a berm and fence before it came to rest. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. After the accident, the pilot stated that despite hours of operation, always use a paper or electronic written checklist.
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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,356 hours in all; 1,356 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,822 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 6, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,765 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540-1B5 (piston); 4,426 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540-1B5 (piston); 4,467 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EET Alabaster AL at 6:22 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 26, 5,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 82°F (28°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from K3R7
Weather report (METAR): K3R7 252055Z AUTO 14007KT 10SM VCTS BKN035 BKN049 29/28 A2998 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W THRU N T02850280
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 16, 2021. 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 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN21LA298 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photo Array CEN21LA298 | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.