Aero Commander 520 accident near Puyallup, Washington, February 2, 2002
On February 2, 2002 at about 6:33 pm local time, a Aero Commander 520, registered N520SE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Puyallup, Washington (Pierce Co-Thun Field). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. Trees were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 2, 2002 · about 6:33 pm local time
- Place
- Puyallup, Washington · Pierce Co-Thun Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 520 · all 520s on the register
- Registration
- N520SE · no longer on the register · serial 520-25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the engines had full power before rotation, and that the takeoff roll was normal until rotation. Right after the aircraft lifted off, the left wing dropped and he felt a swerve to the left, and the aircraft's nose pitched up. The pilot pushed on the control yoke and attempted to counteract the roll motion with opposite aileron. The aircraft continued to the left and collided with trees approximately 1,250 feet from the departure end of the runway and about 100 yards east of the runway edge. Post accident inspection of the flight controls found control continuity from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls. The left engine was inspected and partially torn down. During the engine inspection, there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.
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: 5,000 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 21, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Crew member
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 29, 2001; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GO-435-C2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1S0 Puyallup WA at 6:33 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,650 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from TCM, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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 SEA02FA036.