Aero Commander 500B accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 17, 2008
On January 17, 2008 at about 4:43 am local time, a Aero Commander 500B, registered N712AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa International Airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation and the pilot exceeding the design/stress limits of the aircraft. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's reported gyro problem, the dark night conditions , and prevailing instrument meteorological conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 17, 2008 · about 4:43 am local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Tulsa International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500B · all 500Bs on the register
- Registration
- N712AT · registry record · serial 1118-68
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot departed on a night instrument flight rules flight in actual instrument meteorological in-flight conditions. Less than 2 minutes after the airplane departed the airport, the controller observed the airplane in a right turn and instructed the pilot to report his altitude. The pilot responded he thought he was at 3,500 feet and he thought he had lost the gyros. The pilot said he was trying to level out, and when the controller informed the pilot he observed the airplane on radar making a 360-degree right turn , the pilot said "roger." Three minutes and 23 seconds after departure the pilot said "yeah, I'm having some trouble right now" and there were no further radio communications from the flight. The on scene investigation disclosed that both wings and the tail section had separated from the airframe. All fractures of the wing and wing skin were typical of ductile overload with no evidence of preexisting failures such as fatigue or stress-corrosion. The deformation of the wings indicated an upward failure due to positive loading. No anomalies were noted with the gyro instruments, engine assembly or accessories
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
- Flight instrument malf/fail during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during initial climb
- Aircraft structural failure during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Vacuum system › Vacuum indicating system › Malfunction
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Capability exceeded
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Dark › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Below VFR minima › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,373 hours in all; 695 in this make and model; 255 in the last 90 days; 83 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: November 29, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,888 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, January 10, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO540-E1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO540-E1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Central Air Southwest
The flight
- Departed from: KTUL Tulsa OK at 4:40 am
- Destination: KPWA Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 300° at 18 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 am from KTUL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.