Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Oklahoma City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1973 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Georg O. Mejlaender Jr.
Registration:
N7312
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Muskogee - Oklahoma City - Houston
MSN:
680-476-146
YOM:
1957
Location:
Oklahoma City-Downtown Airpark
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1300
Circumstances:
On final approach, the twin engine airplane was too low and struck power cables. It stalled and crashed in flames few dozen yards short of runway, killing all three occupants.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged distance and altitude on final approach, causing the aircraft to hit power cables and to crash. High obstructions were considered as a contributory factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F in Battle Ground: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1973 at 0859 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Hassan Enterprises
Registration:
N69HE
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Salem - Seattle
MSN:
680F-932-5
YOM:
1960
Location:
Battle Ground
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
9.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Salem to Seattle, the pilot encountered icing conditions and was cleared to divert to Portland. Shortly later, control was lost and the airplane entered a dive. Both wings and elevators separated prior to final impact. All three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation. The following factors were reported:
- Exceeded designed stress limits of aircraft,
- Overload failure,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft and lack of recent experience on instruments,
- Low ceiling, rain, icing conditions,
- Visibility down to zero,
- Both outbound wings and horizontal stabs separated prior to impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680V in Augusta: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1972 at 2227 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Ivy Steele & Partners
Registration:
N1195Z
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Houston - Augusta - Jacksonville
MSN:
680-1575-29
YOM:
1966
Location:
Augusta-Bush Field
Georgia
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:
11000
Circumstances:
While on a night approach to Augusta-Bush Field Airport, the pilot encountered marginal weather conditions. On final, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few dozen yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot exercised poor judgment and completed an improper IFR operation. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Visibility below minimums,
- RVR less than 1,000 feet.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Long Island Airlines
Registration:
N8441C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Anchorage - Annette Island
MSN:
680-789-52
YOM:
1959
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a ferry flight from Anchorage to Annette Island, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the north part of the Pacific Ocean, off the Alaskan coast. No trace of the airplane nor both occupants was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Dallas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1972 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Sportsman Air
Registration:
N6204D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Dallas - Montgomery
MSN:
680-3370-1456
Location:
Dallas-White Rock
Texas
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:
1223
Captain / Total hours on type:
16.00
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Dallas-White Rock Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane nosed down then crashed in flames between two rows of houses located in the district of Alley. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and collision with ground after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation during initial climb. The following factors were reported:
- Initiated flight in adverse weather conditions,
- Low ceiling and fog,
- Loss of control in known IFR conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E off The Bahamas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1972 at 1812 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N4900
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bimini - Nassau
MSN:
680-710-22
YOM:
1959
Location:
Bahamas
All Bahamas
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5709
Captain / Total hours on type:
73.00
Circumstances:
On a flight from Bimini to Nassau, while cruising in very bad weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea. The wreckage and both dead bodies were found 13 days later few km offshore. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity and turbulences.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent and crash in water after the pilot-in-command continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm activity,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Thunderstorm activity and rain falls,
- Zero visibility.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Santiago

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1972 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Línea Aérea Taxpa
Registration:
CC-CEU
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Santiago - Santiago
MSN:
680-511-181
YOM:
1958
Location:
Santiago de Chile-Los Cerrillos
Región Metropolitana de Santiago
Country:
Chile
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Santiago-Los Cerrillos Airport. Following three successful landings, the crew attempted a fourth landing when the twin engine airplane landed hard. On touchdown, one of the main landing gear partially collapsed and the airplane rolled for about 500 meters before it veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. While both pilots were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E in Nice: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1971
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFRB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
MSN:
680-631-2
YOM:
1958
Location:
Nice
Alpes-Maritimes
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances on a fuel depot located in the suburb of Nice. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FP near Henryville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1970 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Results
Registration:
N188HC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cincinnati – Liberal
MSN:
680-1220-115
YOM:
1963
Location:
Henryville
Indiana
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:
2400
Circumstances:
En route from Cincinnati to Liberal, the twin engine airplane went out of control, entered a dive and crashed in an open field located in the region of Henryville. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight for undetermined reason. Investigations reported an overload failure and a separation in flight of the elevator assembly (attachments) for unknown reason. The flight phase when the airframe failure occurred remains unknown.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Innsbruck: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1970 at 1043 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
OE-FAV
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Munich - Innsbruck
MSN:
680-1611-117
YOM:
1966
Flight number:
VRV002
Location:
Innsbruck
Tyrol
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Captain / Total flying hours:
2015
Captain / Total hours on type:
57.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2206
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
3025
Circumstances:
On final approach to Innsbruck-Kranebitten Airport, the airplane banked right, stalled and crashed into the Inn River, about 350 meters short of runway 08 threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all seven occupants were killed. Control was lost just when the crew was cleared to land on runway 08.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control occurred when the right engine failed on final approach due to fuel exhaustion. Investigations revealed that the crew failed to prepare the flight properly and failed to embark sufficient fuel for the requested trip. The lack of experience on this type of aircraft was considered as a contributing factor.
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