Rockwell 690 accident near Apache Junction, AZ
On November 24, 2011, a Rockwell 690 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Apache Junction, AZ. 6 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- November 24, 2011
- Place
- Apache Junction, AZ
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 690 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 6 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.439°N, 111.451°W
- NTSB ID
- 20111124X85300
Official records · WPR12MA046
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- ATC Group Chairmans Factual Report: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Attachment 1: Falcon Field ATC Transcripts: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Attachment 2: Radar Tracks of Accident Aircraft and Other Flights: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Attachment 3: Radar Tracks N690SM and N9QY Departing FFZ: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
- ATC 3 - Attachment 4: N690SM Route of Flight FFZ-Accident Site: Document (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 23, 2011, about 1831 mountain standard time, a Rockwell International (Aero Commander) 690A airplane, N690SM, was destroyed when it impacted terrain in the Superstition Mountains near Apache Junction, Arizona. The commercial pilot and the five passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to Ponderosa Aviation, Inc. (PAI) and operated by PAI under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. Night visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane had departed Falcon Field (FFZ), Mesa, Arizona, about 1825 and was destined for Safford Regional Airport (SAD), Safford, Arizona. PAI's director of maintenance (DOM) and the director of operations (DO), who were co owners of PAI along with the president, conducted a personal flight from SAD to FFZ. The DO flew the leg from SAD to FFZ under visual flight rules (VFR) in night VMC. After arriving at FFZ and in preparation for the flight back to SAD, the DOM moved to the left front seat to act as the pilot flying. The airplane departed FFZ about 12 minutes after it arrived. According to a witness, engine start and taxi-out appeared normal. Review of the recorded communications between the pilot and the FFZ tower air traffic controllers revealed that when the pilot requested taxi clearance, he advised the ground controller that he was planning an "eastbound departure." The flight was cleared for takeoff on runway 4R, and the pilot was instructed to maintain runway heading until advised, due to an inbound aircra
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain a safe ground track and altitude combination for the moonless night visual flight rules flight, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's complacency and lack of situational awareness and his failure to use air traffic control visual flight rules flight following or minimum safe altitude warning services. Also co
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Browse: Arizona · Rockwell 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.
