Aero Commander 680FL accident near Helena, MT
On June 17, 1998, an Aero Commander 680FL (airplane) was involved in an accident near Helena, MT. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 17, 1998
- Place
- Helena, MT
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680FL · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 46.530°N, 112.210°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X10417
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 16, 1998, approximately 1800 mountain daylight time, an Aero Commander 680FL, N446JR, impacted the terrain while on approach to runway 27 at Helena Regional Airport, Helena, Montana. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The 14 CFR Part 135 cargo flight, which departed Kalispell, Montana, about 55 minutes earlier, was operating in instrument meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft, which was owned and operated by Corporate Air, of Billings, Montana, was on an IFR flight plan, and the ELT transmissions that were triggered by the impact played a role in locating the wreckage. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed Kalispell, Montana, about 1705, for the first segment of a multi-leg cargo flight. After departure, he climbed to 15,000 feet, and about 15 minutes after departure reported that he was accumulating traces of rime ice. About 30 minutes after takeoff, he requested a lower altitude, and Salt Lake Center cleared him to 13,000 feet. About 1740, Center terminated radar service and instructed the pilot to contact Helena Approach, a non-radar facility. About one minute later, the pilot contacted Helena Approach and advised that he was at 13,000 feet on the 300 radial of Helena VOR at 27.9 DME. Approach asked the pilot to reduce his speed for sequencing, and advised him to remain at 13,000 feet. About 30 seconds later, the pilot advised that he was picking up some ice, and Approach advised that they would try to get him a lower altitude. About one
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain the correct altitude while turning inbound during a procedure turn to the ILS final approach course. Factors include hilly/mountainous terrain and clouds in the area where the course reversal was performed.
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Browse: Montana · 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.
