Aero Commander S-2R N5539X
15 April 1991 · Grangeville, Idaho, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 15 April 1991 at about 01:00 local time, a Aero Commander S-2R registered N5539X, operated by Steve W. Kelsey, was involved in an accident near Grangeville, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Grangeville, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 45.8995, -116.1298
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S-2R
- Registration
- N5539X
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Steve W. Kelsey
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Ferry
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Salmon → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- IMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA91LA260
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE IMPROPER DECISION BY THE PILOT TO CONTINUE VFR FLIGHT IN IMC WEATHER CONDITIONS IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, RESULTING IN PILOT DISORIENTATION AND INADVERTENT FLIGHT INTO A BOX CANYON. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE RAIN SHOWERS AND LOW CEILING WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND THE BOX CANYON IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLT ENCOUNTERED LOW CEILINGS AND RAIN SHOWERS ON A VFR FLT THRU REMOTE HIGH ALT MT. TERRAIN. THE PILOT INADVERTANTLY ENTERED A BOX CANYON AND ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE COURSE. THE ACFT IMPACTED TERRAIN ON THE SIDE OF THE CANYON AT 7100 FT MSL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Commander S-2R accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jun 1990 | Aero Commander S-2R | Alicia, Arkansas, United States | Terry Robinett | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Mar 1992 | Aero Commander S-2R | Dufur, Oregon, United States | Richardson Airway, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 May 1986 | Aero Commander S-2R | Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 1986 | Aero Commander S-2R | Dumas, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Jun 1984 | Aero Commander S-2R | Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1983 | Aero Commander S-2R | Dos Palos, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Apr 1991 | Cessna 172H | Coeur D'alene, Idaho, United States | Charles S. Parnell | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1991 | Luscombe 8A | Clark Fork, Idaho, United States | Paul F. Clock | No injuries | - |
| 14 May 1991 | Grumman G-164A | Lapwai, Idaho, United States | Schumacher Agri-Flite, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 2 Jun 1991 | Cessna C-182A | Buhl, Idaho, United States | Ivan A. Schroeder | No injuries | - |
| 22 Jun 1991 | Cessna 180G | Challis, Idaho, United States | Maxl Willis | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Jul 1991 | Let L-13 | Driggs, Idaho, United States | James Ball & Eric Soyland | No injuries | - |