Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Hazlehurst: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1967 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Vicksburg Air
Registration:
N6231B
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
500-644
YOM:
1958
Location:
Hazlehurst
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
783
Captain / Total hours on type:
281.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent until it crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was the consequence of a structural failure in flight of the left wing outer panel, both engines and empennage due to exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Brighton: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1966 at 1817 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N6227X
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Denver - Denver
Location:
Brighton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11558
Captain / Total hours on type:
1135.00
Circumstances:
The crew departed Denver-Stapleton on a local training mission for practicing stalls, single engine and emergency procedures. While in cruising altitude, the aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion near Brighton. The airplane was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to maintain flying speed and exercised poor judgment. The crew also attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment, the aircraft did not have dual flight controls.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Sutter: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1966 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Dart Aero
Registration:
N9385R
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Sutter
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Captain / Total hours on type:
75.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a huge explosion near Sutter, California. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Commander 500B in Rockford: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1965 at 1337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
N78333
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Rockford-Greater Rockford
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
2424
Captain / Total hours on type:
367.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rockford-Greater Rockford Airport, one of the engine failed. Due to insufficient speed, the pilot lost control of the airplane that stalled and crashed in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a technical issue on the fuel/injection system. Investigations determined that a fuel-flow distributor diaphragm p/n 383237 failed.
Final Report:

Crash of an Aero Commander 500B near Petrópolis: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
PP-FCV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
500-1207-99
YOM:
1962
Location:
Petropólis
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Petrópolis, killing both occupants.

Crash of an Aero Commander 500E in Araraquara

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Registration:
PT-BHZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
500-861-86
YOM:
1960
Location:
Araraquara
São Paulo
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Araraquara Airport, the twin engine aircraft was too low, struck power cables and crashed short of runway threshold. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Aero Commander 500 near Ardestan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1961 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 500
Operator:
Air Taxi Company (Iran)
Registration:
EP-ABA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Shiraz – Marvdasht – Tehran
Location:
Ardestan
Isfahan
Country:
Iran
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
2866
Captain / Total hours on type:
503.00
Circumstances:
On 16 April the aircraft departed Mehrabad Airport at 0228Z on a charter flight to Yazd and Bandar Abbas. On the same day the first stage of the return flight was made to Shiraz where an overnight stop was made. Next day EP-ABA left Shiraz at 0245Z to pick up four passengers at Marvdasht. At 0525Z it departed Marvdasht on a direct flight to Mehrabad Airport, Tehran, ETA 0800Z. A last contact was made with Esfahan at 0630Z reporting its position as 20 miles east of Esfahan - VFR, flight level 150, ETA Mehrabad 0800Z. This was the last message received from the aircraft. On 19 April word was received at Mehrabad Airport that the aircraft had crashed on the mountain 40 km south of Ardestan and 18 km west of Zafarkand Village. The pilot and four passengers were killed in the accident and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The pilot was unexpectedly confronted with severe carburetor icing conditions. A loss of engine power resulting from this impelled him to descend through the cloud layer when possibly the icing conditions became considerably worse, thus rendering a quick melting of the carburetor ice problematic. His already serious situation was intensified due to breaking cloud over mountainous terrain under conditions of bad visibility. In an effort to avoid the mountain barriers confronting him, he endeavored to fly through a narrow gorge and a visible gap at the top. He, however, to a still greatly diminished power from the persistent effects of carburetor icing, together with the most imposing turbulence and downdraught effects that he would undoubtedly encounter in the crest area, his attempt failed. Unfortunately, the protruding rock formation which he first hit presented a further great obstruction at the most critical point of his passage.
Final Report:
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