Aero Commander 200 accident near Valdosta, Georgia, July 26, 2024
On July 26, 2024 at about 5:24 pm local time, a 1966 Aero Commander 200, registered N326WR, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An insect nest in the right main fuel tank’s vent line, which resulted in an inaccurate fuel level reading, fuel starvation, and a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2024 · about 5:24 pm local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · Valdosta Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 200 D, built 1966 · all 200s on the register
- Registration
- N326WR · registry record · serial 308
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After filling the fuel tanks, the flight instructor flew the airplane on multiple flights with different fuel tanks selected, including the right main fuel tank, with no discrepancies. The instructor and a pilot who was receiving familiarization training in the airplane then departed with the fuel selector on the right main fuel tank. They performed airwork with the fuel selector on a different tank before switching back to the right main fuel tank for an approach and landing. Before departing again, the pilot and instructor reviewed the fuel quantity indications and decided to keep the fuel selector on the right main tank position because the indicated quantity appeared sufficient to sustain engine operation. After departure, the flight remained in the airport traffic pattern. After turning onto the downwind leg, the engine lost power, regained it momentarily, then lost power completely. Turning on the auxiliary fuel pump did not restore engine power. The flight instructor took control of the airplane and elected to land in a field after determining the airplane could not reach a closed runway at the airport. After touchdown, the airplane bounced then came to an abrupt stop with substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the airplane determined that the right main fuel tank had collapsed inward despite no corresponding damage to the surrounding wing structure and wing skin. Further examination of the right main fuel tank’s fuel vent line utilizing compressed air found that an insect nest had extensively blocked it. This blockage would have prevented air from entering the tank as fuel was consumed and allowed a partial vacuum to develop inside the tank. The inward collapse also trapped the fuel quantity transmitter arm, and resulted in the fuel quantity gauge indicating more fuel than was actually present. As fuel continued to be consumed from the unvented tank, the erroneous fuel quantity indication prevented the flight crew from accurately assessing the remaining usable fuel. Before the takeoff that preceded the loss of engine power, the pilots selected the right main fuel tank based on the indicated fuel quantity, although the tank actually contained insufficient usable fuel. After departure, the engine lost total power due to fuel starvation when the fuel remaining in the selected tank was exhausted. Although the pilots activated the auxiliary fuel pump and the instructor directed the left-seat pilot to select another fuel tank, selection of the right fuel tank did not occur before the pilots’ attention became solely focused on executing the forced landing.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern downwind)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel indication system › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,237 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 1,185 as pilot in command; 730 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 16, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 0 in this make and model; 70 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,950 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 19, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 15, 2024; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550-F (piston); 68 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,400 ft; scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from VLD, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KVLD 261653Z VRB03KT 10SM SCT027 BKN034 31/24 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP188 T03110239
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA24LA331.