Aero Commander 520 accident near Lucerne Valley, California, November 2, 1986
On November 2, 1986 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander 520, registered N70FM, was destroyed in an accident near Lucerne Valley, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 1986 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lucerne Valley, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 520 · all 520s on the register
- Registration
- N70FM · no longer on the register · serial 147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A PLEASURE FLT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE RIGHT ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE PLT MADE A LANDING ON DRY LAKE BED AND DISEMBARKED FROM THE PLANE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THAT THE PATH OF THE LANDING ROLL SHOWED NO SIGNS OF MELTED METAL OR DEBRI. THERE WAS A LARGE FUEL STAIN VISIBLE AROUND THE REMAINS OF THE RIGHT WING, RIGHT ENGINE AND RIGHT COWLING. THE ENGINE COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES SHOWED MODERATE HEAT DISTRESS WITH NO EVIDENCE OF A BLOW TORCH EFFECT. THE RIGHT WING FUEL SUMP DRAIN VALVE WAS LOCATED INSIDE A CUP OF MELTED ALIMINUM AND WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 20, 1986; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435-C2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: L66 Corona CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: L66 Corona CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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 LAX87DUG01.