Aero Commander 100 accident near Chatom, Alabama, August 27, 2000
On August 27, 2000 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Aero Commander 100, registered N2982T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chatom, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight planning/decision and failure to ensure an adequate supply of fuel to safely complete the flight to his destination with adequate fuel reserves, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, subsequent engine failure, and a forced landing during, which the aircraft incurred substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2000 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chatom, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 100 · all 100s on the register
- Registration
- N2982T · no longer on the register · serial 103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he had visually inspected the fuel tanks, and had 1 hour and 30 minutes of fuel remaining. In one statement the pilot said he had 15 gallons of fuel on board, and in another statement, he said that that he had 17 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot said that he and two passengers had departed at 09:30 AM, on a low level sight seeing flight, and at 10:25 AM the aircraft's engine started to operate at reduced power. He said the engine did not completely cease operating, but did not generate enough power to stay airborne. He said he tried to reach a field to make an emergency landing, but did not have enough altitude to reach it, so he selected a road, but clipped the power line with the left main gear, and hit two trees with each wing, during the forced landing. According to the FAA inspector, one of the passengers, who is also an FAA licensed mechanic assisted him in the postaccident examination, and they found a small amount of fuel, and a half teaspoonful of dirt in the damaged gascolator. The inspector also said that they found a small amount of fuel in the carburetor when it was examined. The inspector said that aircraft documentation revealed that the aircraft had a fuel capacity of 44 gallons, of which 4 is unusable. The mechanic/passenger said that based on what he experienced during the flight, as well during the postaccident examination of the aircraft, he believes that they ran out of fuel, and that during the examination they found a maximum of 4 to 5 gallons of fuel on the aircraft.
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: 581 hours in all; 490 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 523 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,158 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 2000; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AL94 Wilmer AL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 4R3 Jackson AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 192°F (89°C), dew point 162°F (72°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from MOB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.