Aero Commander 560 accident near Crestview, Florida, July 26, 2018
On July 26, 2018 at about 2:50 pm local time, a 1955 Aero Commander 560, registered N2705B, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Crestview, Florida (Bob Sikes airport). It was a ferry 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
A collapse of the right main landing gear for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2018 · about 2:50 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Crestview, Florida · Bob Sikes · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 560 Undesignat, built 1955 · all 560s on the register
- Registration
- N2705B · no longer on the register · serial 205
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had not operated for about 7 years and the pilot was relocating it from Texas to Florida for repairs under a special flight permit (ferry permit) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Before departing on the flight, both main landing gear bungies were replaced, and their replacement was documented during the FAA's pre-ferry flight inspection. During the third stop of the trip, the airplane's right main landing gear collapsed and the airplane veered off the side of the runway, resulting in substantial damage. Postaccident examination revealed that the right landing gear bungies were missing; however, the airplane was removed from the accident site before the examination could take place, and whether the bungies separated before or after the accident could not be determined. No further testing or examination of the landing gear was performed, and the reason for the gear collapse was not determined based on the available information.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Failure other cases naming the landing gear
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,985 hours in all; 345 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,727 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 17, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming GO-480-B (piston); 1,255 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming GO-480-B (piston); 1,255 hours total
- Operator: Tarvair Eclipse LLC
The flight
- Departed from: ORG Orange TX at 11:45 am
- Destination: CEW Crestview FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 8,004 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from CEW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane off the right side of the runway.
Photo 2 – View of damaged airplane belly close-up.
Photo 3 – View of right underside of airplane damage to fuselage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on May 21, 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 | Pilots 6120 Accident Report and Statement | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Mechanics Statement | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspectors Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Logbook Excerpt | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Special Flight Permit (Ferry Flight) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Memorandum for Record_faa Landing Gear Bungee Installation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum of Conversation_airplane Status | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array_ Accident Site and Damage | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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 N2705B 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
- N2705B: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Aero Commander 560 23 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-B 1 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bob Sikes Airport · nearest airport
- Orange County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 988 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,696 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N2705B 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/ERA18LA201.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.