Rockwell Aero Commander 680

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Air Lease

Registration:

N78D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Knoxville - New Orleans

MSN:

680-1580-33

YOM:

1966

Location:

New Orleans-Lakefront

Louisiana

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5812

Circumstances:

On a night approach to New Orleans-Lakefront Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. Unable to locate the runway, he abandoned the approach and initiated a go-around. Few minutes later, during a second attempt to land, he decided to descend below MDA when the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into Lake Pontchartrain few miles short of runway. All three occupants were killed but only two bodies were recovered.

Probable cause:

Improper IFR operation on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling,
- Pilot fatigue,
- The pilot descended below minimums and below MDA on localizer approach,
- Crashed into lake on second attempt to land.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680FL near Roanoke: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1971 at 1108 LT

Type of aircraft:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Colorado Aviation

Registration:

N601JJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Atlanta – Martinsville

MSN:

680-491-161

YOM:

1957

Location:

Roanoke

Virginia

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Circumstances:

En route from Atlanta to Martinsville, while cruising under VFR mode, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling, rain and fog. In reduced visibility, the twin engine airplane struck trees and crashed in a hilly terrain located in the Catawba mountain range, some 11,8 miles northwest of Roanoke. The wreckage was found three days later. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the American Actor Audie Murphy aged 45.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued VFR flight into adverse weather conditions and attempted operations beyond his experience and ability level. The following factors were reported:
- Low ceiling, rain and fog,
- High obstructions,
- Zero visibility,
- Entered instrument weather at an altitude too low to clear mountain.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680FL in Butler: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1970 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mobile Auto Crushing

Registration:

N6501V

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Butler - Butler

MSN:

680-1592-112

YOM:

1966

Location:

Butler

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2532

Captain / Total hours on type:

208.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Butler-Graham Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames near the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

After takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane as he failed to maintain flying speed due to the fact that he was intoxicated. The following findings were reported:
- Physical impairment of the pilot,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Aircraft stalled from steep low altitude turn,
- The pilot blood alcohol level was 1,58 ‰.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Moorsele

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1970

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

BVBA Gebroeders

Registration:

OO-MOL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

680-516-186

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Moorsele, about 4 km northwest of the airport. The occupant's fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680V in Aspen: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1970 at 0806 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

N6359U

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field

Schedule:

Denver - Aspen

MSN:

680-1536-4

YOM:

1965

Location:

Colorado

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5865

Captain / Total hours on type:

525.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to Aspen-Pitkin County-Sardy Field by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot get troubled by the presence of frost on the windshield and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The airplane struck the slope of a mountain located few miles short of runway and was destroyed upon impact. All eight occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled collision with ground caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures and directives,
- Failure to provide adequate directives in manual equipment on par of the operational supervisory personnel,
- High obstructions,
- Accumulation of ice on windshield,
- The pilot-in-command failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment such as windshield anti-icing and de-icing systems,
- Icing conditions including sleet and freezing rain,
- The pilot did not follow the company informal go-around procedures,
- There were no go-around procedures in the company operations manual,
- Mountain obscured by ice on windshield.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680F near Itabira: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1969 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PT-BQO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Rio de Janeiro – Belo Horizonte

MSN:

680-1086-64

YOM:

1961

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport at 0450LT on a cargo flight to Belo Horizonte-Pampulha Airport, carrying a crew of two, one loadmaster and a load of newspapers. While cruising by night, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located 20 km from Itabira, east of Belo Horizonte. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and all three occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander NU-9D in Easton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

57-6531

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-371-56

YOM:

1956

Location:

Easton

Pennsylvania

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a mission from Lakehurst, NJ, when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Easton, PA. Two crew members were killed while a third occupant was injured.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 680 in Mendoza: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1969

Type of aircraft:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Operator:

Registration:

LQ-FZC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: