NTSB Factual Report

On January 1, 1995, at 1710 Pacific standard time, an Aero Commander 200D, N200AW, collided with the ground during a forced landing attempt in a rural area of Lancaster, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The pilot sustained serious injuries in the accident and died in a hospital on January 18, 1995. Two of the three passengers incurred minor injuries, while one passenger was not injured. The flight originated at Apple Valley, California, on the day of the accident at 1630 as a personal flight to Rosamond, California.

In an oral statement to responding Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, the pilot said the engine quit and he was attempting a forced landing on a road when a car got in the way. The pilot then set up to land in a desert area adjacent to the road. The aircraft landed hard and sheared off the landing gear.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office responded to the scene. He reported that the fuel selector valve was positioned to a right wing fuel tank which was found to be empty. The three remaining fuel tanks in the aircraft were full of fuel. The fuel pump functioned normally when activated with aircraft battery power, and the fuel selector was positioned to a tank containing fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel lines from the firewall to the fuel pump.

The engine was removed from the aircraft and sent to the Teledyne Continental factory, where it was installed in a test cell under the supervision of FAA inspectors. The engine started without hesitation and was exercised throughout its normal power range.

NTSB Probable Cause

fuel starvation due to the pilot's failure to select a tank containing fuel.