Aero Commander 500-S accident near La Porte, Texas, May 25, 2002
On May 25, 2002 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander 500-S, registered N98TT, was substantially damaged in an accident near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Municipal airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a hydraulic line, which resulted in the loss of the brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2002 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500-S · all 500-Ss on the register
- Registration
- N98TT · registry record · serial 3073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing at normal speed, the pilot applied brakes and the pedals went to the stops. He immediately pulled the fuel shut off, feathered the propellers, and cut off all switches while maintaining directional control with the rudder. Realizing he wasn't slowing enough, he decided to steer the airplane on the grass to reduce speed. The airplane rolled to the airport perimeter fence, hitting it at approximately 20-25 mph and stopped in the ditch just outside the fence. Examination of the hydarulic system revealed a failed hydraulic line.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,111 hours in all; 737 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 2,838 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 11, 2001; 60.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,900 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-E1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 05F Gatesville TX at 4:30 pm
- Destination: T41 La Porte TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 4,165 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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 FTW02LA167.