Aero Commander 690A accident near Yakima, WA
On December 13, 1997, an Aero Commander 690A (airplane) was involved in an accident near Yakima, WA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 13, 1997
- Place
- Yakima, WA
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 690A · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.539°N, 120.760°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X09378
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 12, 1997, approximately 2230 Pacific standard time, a Twin Commander (formerly Aero Commander) 690A, N72VF, registered to Yakima Theatres Inc. of Yakima, Washington, collided with terrain while on approach to Yakima Air Terminal, Yakima, Washington. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire, and the airplane's private pilot-in-command (a Yakima business owner whose holdings included Yakima Theatres Inc.) and one passenger, the pilot's 16-year-old son, were fatally injured. The 14 CFR 91 personal flight departed Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, about 2149. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the accident flight, and according to FAA air traffic control (ATC) records, the pilot canceled IFR at 2227, reporting to the Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) that he had the destination airport in sight. Night visual meteorological conditions (a 1,500 foot overcast ceiling with 6 statute miles visibility in mist) were reported at Yakima at 2156. The Yakima air traffic control tower and the local approach control facility (Chinook Approach) close daily at 2200. During the hours that these facilities are closed (2200 to 0600), the airport operates as a non-towered airport within a Class E surface airspace area, and Seattle ARTCC provides ATC services to IFR aircraft operating to the airport. According to the FAA's transcript of communications between Seattle ARTCC and the accident aircraft, Seattle ARTCC issued N72VF a "cleared for approach" clearance to Yakima at 2209:35. According to the
Probable cause
A loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
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Browse: Washington · 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.
