Commander Aircraft CO 114 accident near Reading, Pennsylvania, August 1, 2015
On August 1, 2015 at about 5:19 pm local time, a 2000 Commander Aircraft CO 114, registered N6566D, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Reading, Pennsylvania (Reading Regional 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 visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper installation of the fuel supply line fitting at the fuel manifold, which resulted in the line loosening in-flight, fuel leakage, and a subsequent total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2015 · about 5:19 pm local time
- Place
- Reading, Pennsylvania · Reading Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Commander Aircraft CO 114 B, built 2000 · all 114s on the register
- Registration
- N6566D · no longer on the register · serial 14671
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the airline transport pilot, about 30 minutes into the personal flight and while the airplane was at 3,000 ft mean sea level, the engine "seemed to lose power for a second." About 1 second later, the engine "shut off completely." The pilot tried to restart the engine by turning on the electric fuel boost pump and then moving the fuel selector to each of the positions without success. He then moved the fuel selector back to the "both tanks" position and set the nose pitch for best glide speed; however, the airplane was unable to glide to the airport, so the pilot set it up for an off-field landing. During the forced landing, the airplane encountered uneven terrain, and the right wing struck a tree. A postaccident engine test run was conducted, and the engine would not start. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that a fuel supply line fitting at the fuel manifold was loose and that fuel leaked excessively from the fitting when the electric boost pump was turned on. After the fitting was tightened, the engine started without hesitation and ran continuously at idle power. Due to three bent propeller blades and vibration, a higher power setting was not attempted. A review of the airplane and engine logbooks found no entries indicating that any recent maintenance had been conducted on the fuel system.
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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- 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 fuel and control › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot-Rated Passenger
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 327 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,700 hours in all; 546 in this make and model; 191 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 2,680 as pilot in command; 1,974 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,091 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2015; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-T4B5 (piston); 1,091 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 4:50 pm
- Destination: RDG Reading PA
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 5:54 pm from RDG, 4 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on January 29, 2016. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record – Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilots' Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts - Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 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.