Aero Commander 114-B accident near Somerset, Pennsylvania, August 10, 2000
On August 10, 2000 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander 114-B, registered N6101T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Somerset, Pennsylvania (Somerset County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Pilot's improper pre-flight planning, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2000 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Somerset, Pennsylvania · Somerset County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 114-B
- Registration
- N6101T · no longer on the register · serial 14631
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had been airborne for about 40 minutes when the engine stopped producing power while on final approach. The airplane landed short of the airport, and collided with the airport's perimeter fence. Examination of the airplane's fuel system revealed there was no fuel in the wing fuel tanks, the fuel pump, fuel flow divider or fuel filter, and there was no evidence of fuel spillage or leakage at the accident sight. When the fuel system was drained, about 1-quart of fuel was available in the airplane. Examination of the airplane flight log, pilot's logbook, and fuel history revealed that between August 2, 2000, and August 10, 2000, the airplane had been flown about 4.7 hours. The airplane was last serviced on August 4, 2000, with 7.63 gallons of fuel. No mechanical malfunctions were found.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 666 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 29, 2000; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,260 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-THB5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2G9 at 6:10 pm
- Destination: 2G9
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,697 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:48 pm from JST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.