Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Registration:

N669SA

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

680-1667-131

YOM:

1967

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Mid South Flying Services

Operator:

Registration:

N2998C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

680-987-34

YOM:

1960

Location:

Fellsmere

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Eulalio Castro

Registration:

N128C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Opa Locka - Immokalee - Freeport

MSN:

680-461-131

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Pan Egypt

Registration:

SU-AZL

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Aswan

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Registration:

N26511

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Bedford - Raleigh

MSN:

680-1408-60

YOM:

1964

Location:

Morrisville

North Carolina

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Akarana Air

Registration:

ZK-DBQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Positioning

Survivors:

Site:

Manawatu-Wanganui (Horizons Regional Council)

MSN:

680-1330-15

YOM:

1963

Location:

Wanganui

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

Stanley Aviation

Registration:

N6892S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood

Schedule:

San Juan - Fort Lauderdale

MSN:

680-419-93

YOM:

1956

Location:

Florida

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

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:

Operator:

El Dorado Leasing

Registration:

N6853S

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Upland - San Diego

MSN:

680-367-53

YOM:

1956

Location:

Upland

California

Country:

Region: