Aero Commander 112 accident near Chino, California, October 23, 2006
On October 23, 2006 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander 112, registered N1022J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chino, California (Chino airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff due to blocked fuel vent lines that resulted in fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was an inadequate preflight inspection by the pilot-in-command (CFI).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 23, 2006 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 112 · all 112s on the register
- Registration
- N1022J · registry record · serial 22
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff climb the engine began to run rough, and was not producing enough power to sustain flight. The certified flight instructor (CFI) reported that there was no remaining runway when the engine began to lose power, and he made a forced landing in an open field. An annual inspection had been completed on the airplane 14 days prior to the accident, and this was the first flight since the inspection. During the annual inspection, the fuel system had been inspected. The inspection included de-fueling the fuel tanks to seal the wing leading edge rivets. The fuel tanks were serviced, and no leaks were observed. An inspection checklist for the fuel system identified various items for inspection at the 50 and 100-hour inspections. During the 50-hour inspection, the drain valves, vent lines and vents, filler cap, anti-siphoning valves, and fuel system placards are examined. In the 100-hour inspection, the internal tank inspection, gages, transmitters, fuel line fittings, vent lines, and vents, and the fuel vent line drain assembly beneath the fuselage is removed and cleaned. Following the annual inspection, the airplane sat on the ramp for 2 weeks before the accident flight. On the accident flight, the CFI stated that he and the owner/passenger did a thorough preflight with no discrepancies noted. According to the flight manual, during the preflight inspection, the pilot is to check that both the left and right wing fuel tank vents are unobstructed. The postaccident airframe inspection revealed that the left and right wings' fuel vent lines were clogged with dirt at each end, and their associated unions were also packed with dirt. The vent lines and unions were removed and shipped to the Safety Board's materials laboratory for further inspection. The fuel vent lines were found intermittently clogged with dirt at multiple locations along the length of the lines. The vent lines were cut open and the dirt removed for examination. Insect carcasses were found in the vent lines. According to the airframe manufacturer, there are three fuel vent lines; one at each wing, and one located on the belly of the airplane. If both the main fuel vent lines (left and right wings) become clogged, the belly fuel vent line would not be able to compensate for the clogged vent lines, and fuel flow to the engine would be restricted.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command; 900 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,838 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2006; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA at 10:00 pm
- Destination: CNO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26R, 4,858 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from CNO, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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 LAX07LA020.