# NTSB DEN92FA076: Aero Commander 560-F, N560CM, Manville, WY, July 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: July 23, 1992, 15:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Manville, WY
- Coordinates: 42.770469, -104.60984 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7705&lon=-104.6098&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN92FA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18154/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN92FA076

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF CONTROL FOLLOWING FLIGHT INTO WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTAINING THUNDERSTORMS, TURBULENCE AND ICING CONDITIONS. FACTORS WERE:  INACCURATE WEATHER EVALUATION AND FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (cause)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (cause)
  - weather evaluation - inaccurate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

DURING A CROSS COUNTRY BUSINESS FLIGHT, WHICH WAS FILED AND FLOWN UNDER INSTRUMENT FLIGHT RULES, THE PILOT AND CONTROLLER HAD NUMEROUS COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING ROUTING AND WEATHER, AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS CIRCUMNAVIGATING WEATHER AREAS. THE PILOT REPORTED ENTERING WHAT HIS STORMSCOPE SHOWED AS A 'CLEAR' AREA AFTER ENCOUNTERING RAIN AND MODERATE TURBULENCE AT TEMPERATURES CONDUCIVE TO STRUCTURAL ICING. THE CONTROLLER NOTED A 1,000 FOOT LOSS OF ALTITUDE FROM THE ASSIGNED CRUISE ALTITUDE OF 17,000 FEET, FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF ALTITUDE READOUT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEARED FROM THE CONTROLLER'S RADAR SCOPE. THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND NEAR THE LAST RADAR FIX. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED IN A NEAR VERTICAL DESCENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N560CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N560CM-1992-12-15), registration cancelled 1992-12-15, S/N 131161 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER 560-F
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 560-F](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-560-f) (registry code 0141408) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1311-61
- Airframe hours: 4538
- Engines: LYCOMING OIG-540-B1A 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Mclaughlin Construction Co.
- Registered owner: Mclaughlin Construction Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 5, 1991, 111 hours before
- Departed: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
- Destination: PCZ, WAUPACA, WI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,195 total, 158 in this make and model, 2,041 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 12 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CPR, 80 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920723026849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920723026849A), Jul 23, 1992: Gulstm 560F, Manville, WY, Destroyed, 4 fatal. Advised of severe weather sigmets en route. Encountered thunderstorms. Lost control at FL170.vertical ground impact

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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