Aero Commander 560 N731R
8 September 1995 · Ketchum, Idaho, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 8 September 1995 at about 19:10 local time, a Aero Commander 560 registered N731R, operated by Elmer C. Rigby, was involved in an accident near Ketchum, Idaho, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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 19:10
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Ketchum, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 43.7707, -114.6204
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 560
- Registration
- N731R
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Elmer C. Rigby
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Elko → Hailey
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA95FA212
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The aircraft was VFR inbound to the Hailey airport when the pilot contacted the tower at 1247 and reported 10 miles south. During the next 7 minutes the pilot and controller communicated back and forth and the pilot never visually acquired the airport. A number of witnesses located north of the airport observed the aircraft flying northbound along the highway into upsloping, mountainous terrain at an estimated altitude of 400 feet above ground, and with the landing gear extended and the engines developing power. The aircraft was described as low and slow and was observed to dip its wings during a left turn and then descend steeply to the ground. The aircraft impacted terrain in a steep nose down attitude. There was no evidence of flight control or powerplant malfunctions. High density altitude conditions existed at the accident site. Toxicological examination revealed a finding of 0.068 ug/ml and 0.183 ug/ml of Chlorpheniramine (an over-the-counter antihistamine) in kidney and heart tissue respectively.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Aero Commander 560 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jan 1995 | Aero Commander 560F | Canfield, Ohio, United States | Robert J. Brocker, JR. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Aug 1995 | Aero Commander 560A | Bimini, Bahamas | Dean A. Eberly | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 1995 | Aero Commander 560F | Opa Locka, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 5 Oct 1994 | Aero Commander 560 | Essex, California, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jul 1992 | Aero Commander 560-F | Manville, Wyoming, United States | McLaughlin Construction Co. | Fatal | 4 |
| 6 Jan 1992 | Aero Commander 560E | Boca Raton, Florida, United States | Marlor Corporation | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1995 | Cessna 172L | Stanley, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 1995 | Grumman G-164A | Burley, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Piper PA-30 | Island Park, Idaho, United States | Paul K. Sharp | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 1995 | Mooney M20G | Rigby, Idaho, United States | Ridgel, Larry E. | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jul 1995 | Piper PA-18-150 | McCall, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1995 | Edwin J Estenson RV-4 | Elk River, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |