Aero Commander 112 accident near Jackson, Ohio, August 14, 2004
On August 14, 2004 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Aero Commander 112, registered N1222J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jackson, Ohio (James A Rhodes Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons over unsuitable terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2004 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Jackson, Ohio · James A Rhodes Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 112 · all 112s on the register
- Registration
- N1222J · no longer on the register · serial 222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot took off with an unknown quantity of fuel. The engine lost power, and the pilot maneuvered for a forced landing to a field. During the approach, the engine stopped producing power, and the airplane touched down, struck trees, and separated the right wing before coming to rest. There was little evidence of fuel and no odor of fuel at the scene. An annual inspection had been completed 6 months prior, but the airplane had flown less than 1 hour since the inspection. The fuel capacity of the airplane was 68 gallons, and the owner said he serviced the airplane with 56 gallons of fuel between the time of the annual inspection and the accident flight. The pilot said that while he did not determine the exact amount of fuel on board, the left tank contained fuel and the fuel gauge indicated one-quarter tank. The right tank gauge indicated full. The pilot said he found this unusual because the right tank was "up", but not full. According to the before-takeoff checklist in the Pilot's Operating Handbook, the pilot is directed to place the fuel selector on the "RIGHT or LEFT (fullest)" tank prior to takeoff. When asked, the pilot said the fuel selector was placed in the right tank position. After the accident, the engine started and ran on the airframe. According to the pilot, "I didn't bring my stick with me. The only way to tell [fuel level] is to stick it, and unfortunately, I didn't stick the tanks."
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 16,000 as pilot in command; 7,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 6, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,507 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2004; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I43 Jackson OH at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from HTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 IAD04LA037.