• Welcome to the new Commander Owners Group Forums. Please bear with us as the kinks are worked out and things are tweaked. If you have any questions or issues with the new platform, please post them here.

Commander lands on highway

stop14

New member
Aircraft Type
114B/115
has anyone heard of the Commander that landed on the highway in southern Georgia? I can't open a new thread for some reason, this was three days ago.
Thank, and sorry for this new thread ,clyde
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Here's another newspaper article from Dothan. Article indicates engine had 3 hrs on overhaul.....

http:\\www2.dothaneagle.com/news/2012/oct/31/wiregrass-pilot-lands-safely-georgia-interstate-ar-4865873/
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Always amazes me that there are Commanders & their pilots there that are not COG member or even known by us. Any google search of Commander would turn us up quickly. Even if they have no interest in the events or commaradarie, they are missing the best sources for parts and technical help anywhere. Go figure.

p.s. glad they were all OK, for sure.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Howdy folks, Hardly the publicity a pilot wants . . .
Initial investigation found that the mags were out of time. Not sure where they (un)adjusted as the flight prior was uneventful (7K @ 150+kts).
Run-up mag check was normal, takeoff run good, but when transitioning to the climb mode she just would not climb. Talk about a scary few moments, reminded me of the video of the high wing trying to climb out West in a high DA.
We skimmed above a 70' stand of pine trees with each gentle attempt to turn back to the field activating the stall warning. A clearing appeared which brought a false sense of relief as it turned out to be a marshy swamp. That's when I-95 appeared and thank God there was a break in the traffic. Landed 'with' the traffic flow and once down, used the tow bar to moved her over the guard rail.
We taxied via Trooper escort to a truck weigh station where recovery in on-going. All first responders were VERY helpful and courteous.
And that was < 3 hrs on a zero time factory rebuild, which by the way sounded much stronger with the timing set correctly.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Nice job John! Glad you are both ok.

Tim K
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Glad it worked out so well as it did! Thanks for sharing how it happened.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

John

I assume it was addressed as a part of the rebuild, but there is an ad on the mag retaining hardware. Easy to tell if it was done. The clamps that secure the Mags should have round corners and not square. There was an issue with mags moving with the old square clamps.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Great job remembering to "fly the plane". Are they going to allow you to take off from the hwy?
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

I second Joel. I have changed a few on those mags. The original ones slip. They are a SB, but some shops do not do them as it is not manadtory on part 91. If anyone has the dual mag setup, I would change the hold downs for sure. I think the part is only about $50.00
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

The Commander pilot does it right. The autos also did it right and gave the plane it's due space, annnnnnnnnnnnnnd everyone was nice and helped.
Great Flying John.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

I have an overhauled engine and my right mag broke after 25 hrs.
Been told by my mechanic, that they returned a 'lot' mags recently
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

Had that happen right after mtce. by my previous A&P ... but was fortunate to be departing on a 7,000 runway ... at about 20' AGL I knew something was wrong, cut power, landed, and stopped in plenty of time. Turns out Mag just set way the hell off. That was the last straw with that guy.
 
Re: Commander lands on highway

----------Turns out Mag just set way the hell off. That was the last straw with that guy.
I took a different approach with my trunk mechanic. He is really experienced and old, like me. Nevertheless, when over water (Sea of Cortez) and I pondered why the spark plugs were fouling way too often, I decided to take my mechanic with me to a bonified mag shop and observe their setting the two mags. He had no idea what he had been doing in setting them. Now both of us know how and I have not had a problem since.;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top