Aero Commander 720 N120G

Summary

On 9 December 1988 at about 11:00 local time, a Aero Commander 720 registered N120G, operated by Commuter Craft Inc., was involved in an accident near Alcoa, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. No probable cause statement is available for this record.

Date

9 December 1988 at 11:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Alcoa, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

McGhee Tyson (TYS)

Coordinates

35.7904, -83.9700

Aircraft

Aero Commander 720

Registration

N120G

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Commuter Craft Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fort Lauderdale → Alcoa

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ATL89FA054

2 people died.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. No probable cause statement is present in the source data.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AFTER ENCOUNTERING ICING CONDITIONS IN FLIGHT AND EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS MAINTAINING ALTITUDES AND HEADINGS, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT FROM HIS PLANNED DESTINATION OF DAYTON, OH TO KNOXVILLE, TN. WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH AFTER DESCENDING 1300 FT BELOW MINIMUM PROCEDURE TURN ALTITUDE FOLLOWED BY BEING TOLD THE AIRCRAFT WAS WELL ABOVE THE GLIDESLOPE, ATC INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN 3000 FT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, ATC REPORTED THE MODE C INDICATED 1900. THE PILOT RESPONDED WITH 'ENGINE QUIT'. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN A PASTURE ABOUT 1 MILE FROM THE AIRPORT. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT EQUIPPED TO OPERATE IN ICING CONDITIONS. THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE FLAPS AND LANDING GEAR WERE EXTENDED. APPROXIMATELY 40 LBS OF COCAINE WERE FOUND ONBOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE TOX REPORT FOR THE PILOT DISCLOSED .05 MG/L BENZOYLECGONITE (COCAINE METABOLITE) IN HIS BLOOD. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A WEATHER BRIEFING WHICH INCLUDED A FREEZING LEVEL AT 7000 FT AND FILED A FLIGHT PLAN REQUESTING A CRUISING ALTITUDE OF 14000 FT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.