Aero Commander 560 accident near Ketchum, ID
On September 8, 1995, an Aero Commander 560 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Ketchum, ID. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 8, 1995
- Place
- Ketchum, ID
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 560 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 43.771°N, 114.620°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001207X04589
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 8, 1995, approximately 1310 mountain daylight time*, an Aero Commander 560, N731R, being flown by a private pilot, was destroyed during an inflight collision with terrain following a loss of control in flight while maneuvering 15 miles northwest of Ketchum, Idaho. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91. According to family members, the aircraft departed Van Nuys, California, on September 7th, and was expected to arrive in Idaho Falls. The aircraft stopped in Elko, Nevada, for fuel, arriving approximately 1745 where the pilot and passenger remained overnight. According to FAA tower personnel, N731R departed Elko the following morning at 1141. At 1247, N731R first contacted the Hailey Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower reporting "ten south for landing" and the pilot was given instructions by the controller to "make (a) straight in approach (to) runway 31 (and to) report six mile final." At 1249, N731R contacted Hailey tower reporting "I believe I'm about six mile(s) final but I do not have the airport yet" and the tower responded "that transmitter is broken and unreadable, say again your position." N731R then responded reporting "I believe I might be about six mile final, I'm not to(o) familiar with the terrain." The tower then inquired "are you familiar with Bellevue" and N731R responded "I believe I'm just in that vicinity right now, I believe I'm just over Bellevue (refer to CHART
Probable cause
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a turn resulting in a stall/spin. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot-in-command's becoming geographically disoriented as well as his improper in-flight decision, and mountainous terrain.
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Browse: Idaho · Aero Commander aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
