Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680F off Great Inagua: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 7, 1978 at 1106 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N669SA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
680-1667-131
YOM:
1967
Location:
Great Inagua Island
Inagua
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:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Great Inagua Island, the pilot declared an emergency and reported an engine fire. He elected to divert to the nearest airport but eventually ditched the aircraft into the sea. SAR operations did no find any trace of the aircraft nor both occupants.
Probable cause:
Ditching following fire in engine in flight for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Fellsmere: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1978 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Mid South Flying Services
Registration:
N2998C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
680-987-34
YOM:
1960
Location:
Fellsmere
Florida
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:
18980
Circumstances:
While flying by night at a very low altitude, the twin engine airplane struck an obstacle and crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Nosed down and crashed after the pilot selected an unsuitable terrain. Aircraft found in a canal adjacent to a road. It was under surveillance for suspicion of narcotics contraband.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Eulalio Castro
Registration:
N128C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Opa Locka - Immokalee - Freeport
MSN:
680-461-131
YOM:
1957
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
400
Captain / Total hours on type:
73.00
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean while on a flight from Immokalee to Freeport. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed the airplane was stolen or the flight was unauthorized.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Aswan: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Pan Egypt
Registration:
SU-AZL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Aswan
Aswan
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the twin engine landed hard. It went out of control and crashed in flames. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 in Morrisville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1978 at 2002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Registration:
N26511
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bedford - Raleigh
MSN:
680-1408-60
YOM:
1964
Location:
Morrisville
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
1061
Circumstances:
On final approach to Raleigh-Durham Airport, the twin engine airplane stalled and crashed. The pilot and three passengers were killed while two others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Stall and spin on final approach after the pilot failed to maintain flying speed. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Improperly loaded aircraft, W&B and CofG.
- Visibility one mile or less,
- Aircraft heavy,
- No record of any pilot training type aircraft found,
- Narcotics and over 24,000 $ found in aircraft.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 near Katherine

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Illegal (smuggling)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Katherine
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a drug smuggling flight and attempted to land on an abandoned airstrip located about 6 km west of Katherine. After the mishap, the crew set afire the airplane and left before being arrested by the police. On board was a load of 200,000 opium sticks for a total value of 3 millions US$.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL off Wanganui: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Akarana Air
Registration:
ZK-DBQ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
680-1330-15
YOM:
1963
Location:
Wanganui
Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered a double engine failure in flight and crashed into the sea off the Whangaehu River mouth, south of Wanganui. Several debris were found floating on water but the pilot's body was never found.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680 off Fort Lauderdale: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1977 at 1132 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Stanley Aviation
Registration:
N6892S
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
680-419-93
YOM:
1956
Location:
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
6405
Captain / Total hours on type:
1185.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Fort Lauderdale, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with storm activity and turbulences. He contacted ATC and sent a brief message when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. The main wreckage and the six occupants were not recovered. At the time of the accident, the airplane was flying under VFR mode in IMC.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. The following findings were reported:
- Thunderstorm activity,
- VFR flight plan,
- IMC conditions,
- Crashed in area of heavy thunderstorm activity.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL in Upland: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1977 at 0740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
El Dorado Leasing
Registration:
N6853S
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Upland - San Diego
MSN:
680-367-53
YOM:
1956
Location:
Upland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
1675
Captain / Total hours on type:
320.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Upland-Cable Airport in marginal weather conditions, the pilot reported problems with gyro when cruising at low in low ceiling, the airplane crashed into an airport complex. Four employees of the complex were injured while all five occupants of the airplane were killed.
Probable cause:
The airplane crashed after the pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Instruments/equipment and accessories - flight and navigation instruments: attitude gyro,
- Low ceiling,
- Fog,
- Low altitude flight in low ceiling area,
- Pilot declared gyros out, reason undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FP in Bergerac

Date & Time: May 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 680
Operator:
Société Aviaffaires & Cook International
Registration:
F-BNPE
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
680-1385-145
YOM:
1964
Location:
Bergerac
Dordogne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Bergerac Airport. There were no casualties.
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