Rockwell Aero Commander 500

Operator:

George W. Peck

Registration:

N9392R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

500-909-18

YOM:

1960

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6000

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Punta Prieta on a regional flight when it crashed under unknown circumstances somewhere in Baja California. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Walnut Grove: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1975 at 1123 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Charles D. Thompson

Registration:

N9394R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Stockton – Sacramento – Klamath Falls

MSN:

500-913-21

YOM:

1960

Location:

Walnut Grove

California

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While in cruising altitude, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with rain, turbulences and thunderstorm activity. While flying under VFR mode, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. It suffered an in-flight failure then crashed inverted in water near Walnut Grove. All six occupants were killed. VFR flight was not recommended by FSS.

Probable cause:

Loss of control and uncontrolled descent after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot suffered a spatial disorientation,
- Overload failure,
- Rain,
- Turbulences and thunderstorm activity,
- Separation in flight,
- In-flight structural failure.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Joaçaba: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1975 at 1800 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-IQG

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Florianópolis – Joaçaba

Location:

Joaçaba-Santa Terezinha

Santa Catarina

Country:

Brazil

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On approach to Joaçaba-Santa Terezinha Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the twin engine airplane struck a hill located about 7 km from the airport. A boy aged nine was seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mário Eberle Schaefer, †
Hans Adolfo Haeger. †
Passengers:
Adolfo Zigelli, †
Airton Saul Pretto, †
Sérgio Antônio Pretto, †
Rodrigo Bonato.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Valparaiso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1975 at 1950 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Airea Enterprises

Registration:

N78378

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Gary - Gary

MSN:

500-1263-86

YOM:

1962

Location:

Valparaiso

Indiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

459

Captain / Total hours on type:

155.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Gary Airport in the early evening on a local flight. While in normal cruise, the airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in a prairie. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an improper operation of flight controls on part of dual student. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Aircraft observed to enter a stall followed by a spin,
- The student log had two previous dual flights, one by a CFI.

Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1975 at 1018 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N181Z

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Atlanta - Atlanta

MSN:

500-1310-122

YOM:

1963

Location:

Red Hill

Georgia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9535

Captain / Total hours on type:

1446.00

Circumstances:

The crew departed Atlanta for a local training mission. En route, while in normal cruise, the airplane was observed to pitch up and entered a spin. It crashed near Red Hill, killing both pilots.

Probable cause:

Engine failure or malfunction after a failure of the fuel injection system. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Miscellaneous acts, conditions: loose, part/fitting,
- Improper operation of flight controls on part of the student pilot,
- Failed to maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate supervision of flight on part of the pilot-in-command,
- Rough or surging engine heard,
- Not equipped with flight Bob-WT system.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500B in Oulu: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Aviatik

Registration:

OH-ACK

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

500-1134-76

YOM:

1962

Location:

Oulu

Northern Ostrobothnia

Country:

Finland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Oulu Airport by night, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred meters short of runway threshold. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Grand Central

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

ZS-HMR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

500-654-14

YOM:

1968

Location:

Grand Central (Midrand)

Gauteng

Country:

South Africa

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Grand Central Airport, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. It lost speed, stalled and crashed short of runway threshold. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on final approach.

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

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1973 at 1255 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6166X

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Knoxville - Knoxville

MSN:

500B-996-27

YOM:

1960

Location:

Alcoa

Tennessee

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2871

Captain / Total hours on type:

82.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Knoxville-McGee Tyson Airport, while on a local flight, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located in Alcoa, south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed. It was determined that the pilot was intoxicated.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed due to physical impairment. The following factors were reported:
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- Stolen aircraft or unauthorized flight,
- Fog,
- Missed visual approach to airport under ravec,
- Blood alcohol 2,52‰,
- Unauthorized use of aircraft,

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500A in Pekin: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1972 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N78376

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Martinsburg - Peoria

MSN:

500-1275-98

YOM:

1963

Location:

Pekin

Illinois

Country:

Region: