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

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1973 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PT-CLD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
680-1596-206
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
By night, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties and was unable to takeoff from Furnas Airport. It overran, struck trees and eventually crashed against a bridge. Both pilots and four passengers were killed while two others were injured.

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

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1973 at 1620 LT
Registration:
N7312
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Muskogee - Oklahoma City - Houston
MSN:
680-476-146
YOM:
1957
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
Registration:
N69HE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Salem - Seattle
MSN:
680F-932-5
YOM:
1960
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
Registration:
N1195Z
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Houston - Augusta - Jacksonville
MSN:
680-1575-29
YOM:
1966
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
Registration:
N8441C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Anchorage - Annette Island
MSN:
680-789-52
YOM:
1959
Country:
Region:
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
Operator:
Registration:
N6204D
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Dallas - Montgomery
MSN:
680-3370-1456
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
Operator:
Registration:
N4900
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bimini - Nassau
MSN:
680-710-22
YOM:
1959
Country:
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
Registration:
CC-CEU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago - Santiago
MSN:
680-511-181
YOM:
1958
Country:
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
Operator:
Registration:
F-BFRB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
680-631-2
YOM:
1958
Country:
Region:
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
Operator:
Registration:
N188HC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cincinnati – Liberal
MSN:
680-1220-115
YOM:
1963
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: