Aero Commander Down KSUS this morn

The most commonly-used training C172 at my local field is a 1963 model. The rest of the fleet isn't much newer. I think the newest plane we have is a '76 model. They all fly just fine.
 
bonefishpete said:
If in commercial service? Then yes.
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Centennial Tour ... (June 11, 1926)
  • July 11, 2026: Lorain County Regional Airport (Elyria, OH)
  • July 20–26, 2026: EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (Oshkosh, WI)
  • August 1–3, 2026: Put-in-Bay Airport (Put-in-Bay, OH)
  • September 13, 2026: Liberty Aviation Museum (Port Clinton, OH)
 
Is a 1964 aircraft as safe system wise, crash wise, maintenance wise, otherwise as safe as a 2025 aircraft?

When I learned to fly the Cessna and Piper aircraft I flew were 1-2 years old and maybe 300 to 600 hours total time. If at the time I'd of flown 64 year old planes I would of been flying Curtis Jenny aircraft.

I don't know what caused this crash but I suspect the pilot was probably a young guy just trying to build hours. I wish this pilot could of built hours in something newer and safer like a Caravan.
 
bonefishpete said:
Is a 1964 aircraft as safe system wise, crash wise, maintenance wise, otherwise as safe as a 2025 aircraft?

When I learned to fly the Cessna and Piper aircraft I flew were 1-2 years old and maybe 300 to 600 hours total time. If at the time I'd of flown 64 year old planes I would of been flying Curtis Jenny aircraft.

I don't know what caused this crash but I suspect the pilot was probably a young guy just trying to build hours. I wish this pilot could of built hours in something newer and safer like a Caravan.
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Caravans, even new ones, crash too.

Safer? That can be debated as well.
 
ateamer said:
Sure. So you want every plane made before 1965 to be grounded? There are 80+ year old planes still earning a living. All currently flying B-52s and most of the tanker fleet meet your criteria for retirement. Age means zip.
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Don't compare a B52 to a Aero Commander. Air Force rebuilt the B-52 and re engined it.
Cost didn't matter.
 
Ok, fine. Does Everts still fly DC6's?
 
The Aero Commander 500B aircraft owned by Kansas City-based charter company Central Air Southwest, took off around 12:20 a.m., according to flight tracking data. The plane appeared to turn around almost immediately and attempted to return to the runway but crashed about 1,500 feet short.
According to National Transportation Safety Board records, this marks the fourth fatal crash involving Central Air Southwest aircraft since 2005, all involving Aero Commander 500B aircraft. The other crashes happened in 2014 in Chicago, Ill., 2008 in Tulsa, Ok., and 2005 in Gaylord, Mi.
 
soilboy said:
The Aero Commander 500B aircraft owned by Kansas City-based charter company Central Air Southwest, took off around 12:20 a.m., according to flight tracking data. The plane appeared to turn around almost immediately and attempted to return to the runway but crashed about 1,500 feet short.
According to National Transportation Safety Board records, this marks the fourth fatal crash involving Central Air Southwest aircraft since 2005, all involving Aero Commander 500B aircraft. The other crashes happened in 2014 in Chicago, Ill., 2008 in Tulsa, Ok., and 2005 in Gaylord, Mi.
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Yep just as Gud as new.
 
bonefishpete said:
Did 64 year old planes even come with shoulder belts?
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No. And 50% of new recip engine failures occur within the 1st 250 hours. So what's your point again? Plus, I've never seen an accident report ever mention that the aircraft age was the probable cause. New doesn't equate to safer, as you can always add shoulder harnesses to any aircraft.
 
Bell206 said:
No. And 50% of new recip engine failures occur within the 1st 250 hours. So what's your point again? Plus, I've never seen an accident report ever mention that the aircraft age was the probable cause. New doesn't equate to safer, as you can always add shoulder harnesses to any aircraft.
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As I did on my 1969 Cherokee.
 
I have believe at some point the FAA is going to look at these old aircraft as unfit for commercial work.
You have to admit the manufacturers never envisioned these air frames flying 60 - 70 years or more. Some are no longer supported by the manufacturers if even still in business.
 
bonefishpete said:
I have believe at some point the FAA is going to look at these old aircraft as unfit for commercial work.
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What if that extends to recreational use as well?
bonefishpete said:
You have to admit the manufacturers never envisioned these air frames flying 60 - 70 years or more. Some are no longer supported by the manufacturers if even still in business.
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Same for the recreational aircraft.
 
bonefishpete said:
have believe at some point the FAA is going to look at these old aircraft as unfit for commercial work.
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They already did back in 1990 with the Aging Aircraft protocols and initiatives. Even the OEMs got involved with similar programs like Cessna's SIDs. Perhaps if you were to spend a second researching a topic before commenting, you might actually learn something.;)
 
Bell206 said:
They already did back in 1990 with the Aging Aircraft protocols and initiatives. Even the OEMs got involved with similar programs like Cessna's SIDs. Perhaps if you were to spend a second researching a topic before commenting, you might actually learn something.;)
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That's my opinion and this is your opinion.
1990? That's 35 years ago!
 
Groundpounder said:
What if it's a transport category jet?
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Well if manufacturer is ok. Sure Cessna wouldn't be. To the point an Areo Commander is not a transport type aircraft nor built to transport specs.

That's like comparing Snap-On tools to Harbour Freight Pittsburgh tools.
 
An Aero Commander was used as Air Force 1 by Dwight D. Eisenhower. Must be built OK, I guess.
 
bonefishpete said:
Is a 1964 aircraft as safe system wise, crash wise, maintenance wise, otherwise as safe as a 2025 aircraft?

When I learned to fly the Cessna and Piper aircraft I flew were 1-2 years old and maybe 300 to 600 hours total time. If at the time I'd of flown 64 year old planes I would of been flying Curtis Jenny aircraft.

I don't know what caused this crash but I suspect the pilot was probably a young guy just trying to build hours. I wish this pilot could of built hours in something newer and safer like a Caravan.
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The Jenny was designed 12 years after the Wright Brothers’ flight. Those Cessnas and Pipers - which are still in production - were designed decades later, with all the knowledge and experience gained through three major wars, the growth of commercial aviation into the jet age, and even the space age. A Jenny and a 172 are apples and oranges.
 
bonefishpete said:
Did 64 year old planes even come with shoulder belts?
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My 65 year old plane didn’t leave the factory with shoulder belts, but it now has four-point harnesses. And it could have airbags. It didn’t have a GPS-based glass panel, headset jacks and LED lights, either. The airframe is a platform for installing new equipment.
 
bonefishpete said:
Is a 1964 aircraft as safe system wise, crash wise, maintenance wise, otherwise as safe as a 2025 aircraft?

When I learned to fly the Cessna and Piper aircraft I flew were 1-2 years old and maybe 300 to 600 hours total time. If at the time I'd of flown 64 year old planes I would of been flying Curtis Jenny aircraft.

I don't know what caused this crash but I suspect the pilot was probably a young guy just trying to build hours. I wish this pilot could have built hours in something newer and safer like a Caravan.
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The departed had 10,000+ hours, ATC as well. RIP.
 
bonefishpete said:
Well if manufacturer is ok. Sure Cessna wouldn't be. To the point an Areo Commander is not a transport type aircraft nor built to transport specs.

That's like comparing Snap-On tools to Harbour Freight Pittsburgh tools.
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So why can't a Cessna, or aero commander, or Boeing, be maintained to the same standards?
 
bonefishpete said:
That's my opinion and this is your opinion.1990? That's 35 years ago!
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And? You stated the FAA needs to look at old aircraft as unfit for commercial work. They did. 35 years ago. If you want to use old aircraft for commercial work the aircraft must be maintained under an aging aircraft program. Its federal law. So whats your point again?
 
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Security video shows it in a steep dive with flames visible, finally impacting with an explosion. The crash happened around 12:30am but wasn't discovered until around 3:00am since KSUS is unattended during those hours.
 
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