Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Palmyra: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 2024 at 0900 LT
Registration:
N690BM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Manassas - Georgetown
MSN:
690-11311
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After departure from Manassas-Harry P. Davis Field Airport, Virginia, the twin engine airplane continued to the southwest, bound for Georgetown, South Carolina. While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet and approaching an area of marginal weather conditions, the pilot apparently elected to modify his route when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a wooded area located in Palmyra. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in Adicora

Date & Time: Feb 17, 2023 at 1130 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YV1473
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – Adicora
MSN:
690-11510
YOM:
1979
Location:
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach and landing at Adicora Airport were completed in relative strong winds. Upon touchdown on runway 08, the twin engine airplane landed hard, bounced and went out of control. It veered off runway to the right, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All four occupants evacuated safely and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander near Hiles: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 2021 at 0900 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N690LS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Rhinelander - Rhinelander
MSN:
690-11475
YOM:
1978
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1019
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7854
Circumstances:
The company pilot and two employees had departed on an aerial imagery survey flight of forest vegetation. The airplane began to level off at an altitude of about 16,100 ft mean sea level (msl) and accelerated to a maximum recorded groundspeed of 209 knots. Less than 2 minutes later, the groundspeed decreased to about 93 knots, and the airplane descended about 500 ft while on a steady heading. The airplane subsequently entered a rapid descent and a right turn, and “mayday, mayday, mayday” and “we’re in a spin” transmissions were broadcast to air traffic control (ATC). A witness, who was located near the accident site, noticed the airplane nose down at high rate of speed and then saw the airplane spinning rapidly about its longitudinal axis. The airplane wreckage was located in remote wetlands and wooded terrain. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane impacted the ground in a nose-low vertical attitude and at high speed. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. Examination of the airframe, engines, and propellers revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. According to the aircraft performance study for this accident, when the airplane pitched down, the normal load factor decreased rapidly from about 1.6 to less than 1 G. A rapid decrease in normal load factor is consistent with a stall when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack. At that point, the air flow becomes separated at the wing, and the wing can no longer generate the necessary lift. If the airplane is in uncoordinated flight at the stall, a spin can result. Thus, the pilot likely did not maintain adequate airspeed, causing the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack and enter a stall and spin. An important but unknown factor before and during the initial stall was the behavior of the pilot regarding his flight control inputs, including his possible attempt to recover. The airplane’s Pilot Operating Handbook states that spins are not authorized and does not include a procedure for inadvertent spin recovery.
Probable cause:
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which caused the airplane to exceed its critical angle of attack and enter an inadvertent stall and spin.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in Thunder Bay: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 2021 at 2109 LT
Operator:
Registration:
C-GYLD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thunder Bay – Dryden
MSN:
690-11426
YOM:
1977
Flight number:
BD160
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2662
Captain / Total hours on type:
230.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7620
Circumstances:
The airplane, operated by MAG Aerospace Canada Corp. as flight BD160, was conducting a visual flight rules flight from Thunder Bay Airport, Ontario, to Dryden Regional Airport, Ontario, with only the pilot on board. At 2109 Eastern Daylight Time, the aircraft began a takeoff on Runway 12. Shortly after rotation, the aircraft entered a left bank, continued to roll, and then struck the surface of Runway 07 in an inverted attitude. The pilot was fatally injured. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and postimpact fire. The emergency locator transmitter activated on impact.
Probable cause:
Findings as to causes and contributing factors:
1. After takeoff from Runway 12 at Thunder Bay Airport, Ontario, as the pilot conducted a rapid, low-level, climbing steep turn, the aircraft entered an accelerated stall that resulted in a loss of control and subsequent collision with the surface of Runway 07 in an inverted attitude.
2. The decision to conduct the rapid, low-level, climbing steep turn was likely influenced by an altered perception of risk from previous similar takeoffs that did not result in any adverse consequences.

Findings as to risk:
1. If air traffic controllers engage in communications that may be perceived by pilots to encourage unusual flight manoeuvres, pilots may perceive this encouragement as a confirmation that the manoeuvres are acceptable to perform, increasing the risk of an accident.
2. If NAV CANADA’s reporting procedures do not contain specific criteria for situations where air traffic services personnel perceive aircraft to be conducting unsafe flight manoeuvres, there is a risk that these manoeuvres will continue and result in an accident.

Other findings
1. Most of the wires that comprised the elevator trim cable failed before the impact as a result of excessive wear; however, this did not contribute to the occurrence because the trim tab remained in the normal take-off position.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690B in Batey Palo Bonito: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 2021 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft entered the Dominican airspace without clearance while probably being involved in an illegal mission (contraband). After being traced by an A-29B Super Tucano, it crashed in unknown circumstances in a sugar cane field located in Batey Palo Bonito. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell 690B Turbo Commander in Ahuas

Date & Time: Aug 23, 2020
Operator:
Registration:
XB-DRA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11423
YOM:
1977
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was engagted in an illegal contraband flight when it crash landed in an open field located near Ahuas. No one was found on site and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. A load of cocaine was found on board.