Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690A near Independence: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1976 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
M I C Corporation
Registration:
N57186
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kansas City - Oklahoma City
MSN:
690-11186
YOM:
1974
Location:
Independence
Kansas
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:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
980.00
Circumstances:
En route from Kansas City to Oklahoma City, the twin engine airplane was in normal cruise when control was lost. It entered a dive, suffered an overload failure then crashed in an open field. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Airframe failure and fire or explosion in flight for undetermined reasons. The following findings were reported:
- Overload failure,
- Fire in wing,
- Separation in flight,
- Altitude varied between 14,500 and 15,300 feet during last 4 minutes of flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Nemacolin: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1975 at 1058 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N847CE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pontiac – Pittsburgh – Nemacolin
MSN:
690-11223
YOM:
1974
Location:
Nemacolin
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4891
Circumstances:
On the leg from Pittsburgh to Nemacolin, weather conditions deteriorated with rain falls and fog. The crew started the descent to Nemacolin in IMC conditions and cancelled the IFR flight plan to continue the approach under VFR mode. While descending below MEA, the twin engine airplane struck the ground and crashed few miles short of runway 23. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while descending under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper IFR operation,
- Weather considerably worse than forecast,
- Rain,
- Fog,
- Cruise clearance,
- Descended below MEA in IMC,
- Attempted VFR approach,
- The airport did not have approved instrument approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690A in Kingston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1974 at 1804 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N40MP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Phoenix - Butte
MSN:
690-11116
YOM:
1973
Location:
Kingston
Utah
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:
2754
Captain / Total hours on type:
200.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night at an altitude of 17,500 feet on a ferry flight from Phoenix to Butte, the twin engine airplane collided with a USAF General Dynamics F-111A Aardvark registered 67-0055. Following the collision, both aircraft entered a dive and crashed in flames near Kingston. The pilot of the Commander was killed while both military pilots were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
The collision occurred by night when the aircraft was not under radar contact with no control. It is understood that the F-111 crew had a rendezvous with the crew of a USAF Boeing KC-135 refueling plane for a night exercise but he mistook the Commander that was struck from the rear with a 0-10° angle.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 off Lima: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
CP-1017
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lima - La Paz - Dallas
MSN:
11054
YOM:
1972
Location:
Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez
Lima
Country:
Peru
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Lima-Callao-Jorge Chávez Airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea about 400 meters offshore. A passenger was rescued while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690A in Alex: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1973 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N333CA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City
MSN:
690-11117
YOM:
1973
Location:
Alex
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
8950
Captain / Total hours on type:
1944.00
Circumstances:
The crew left Oklahoma City-Wiley Post Airport on a local test flight. While in cruising altitude, the airplane disappeared from radar screens, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. Debris scattered on a wide area and both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft suffered an explosive decompression in flight following an incorrect use of equipment on part of the crew. The following factors were reported:
- Electrical systems: switches,
- Pressurization control and indicating system,
- Lack of familiarity with aircraft,
- Failed to use or incorrectly used miscellaneous equipment,
- Inadequate supervision of flight,
- Explosive decompression,
- The copilot selected uncovered pressurization dump switch,
- Different panel position on 690 model.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Wellsburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1972 at 1010 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
North American Research
Registration:
N1NR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pittsburgh – Wheeling
MSN:
690-11024
YOM:
1972
Location:
Wellsburg
West Virginia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5507
Captain / Total hours on type:
7.00
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission from Pittsburgh to Wheeling. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the crew decided to perform several stalls when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in flames in an open field located near Wellsburg. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in stall maneuver for unknown reason. Control not recovered before impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Bethany

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1970 at 1527 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N9202N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oklahoma City - Oklahoma City
MSN:
690-11002
YOM:
1969
Location:
Oklahoma City-Wiley Post
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
9731
Captain / Total hours on type:
150.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight and departed Oklahoma-Wiley Post Airport in the early afternoon to test the aircraft that has a new tail design. While cruising at a speed of 243 knots in the vicinity of the airport, the rudder detached. The airplane entered a dive and crashed in a field located in Bethany, by the airport. All three crew members were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled descent caused by the failure of the rudder and the rudder tab control system that separated in flight. The following findings were reported:
- New design rudder,
- Non-prod tab,
- Arm. encountered sustained flutter at 243 knots,
- Empennage separated in flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 690 in Rosedale: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1969 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Grand Commander 690
Operator:
Registration:
N9001N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Norman - Norman
MSN:
690-11000
YOM:
1969
Location:
Rosedale
Oklahoma
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
1454
Captain / Total hours on type:
11.00
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Norman Airport, consisting of various tests (stalls) in specific conditions. In flight, the pilot-in-command engaged the aircraft in a stall when control was lost. The airplane entered a dive and eventually crashed in a wooded area located in Rosedale, about 28 miles southeast of Norman Airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all threes occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command failed to obtain/maintain flying speed, causing the aircraft to stall. The lack of familiarity with aircraft was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Rockwell Grand Commander 690