# NTSB SEA73AS025: Aero Comdr 680F, N69HE, Battle Grnd, WA, February 17, 1973

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: February 17, 1973
- Place: Battle Grnd, WA · BATTLE GRND, WA
- Location: 45.7769° N, 122.5411° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Battle Ground, WA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7769&lon=-122.5411&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 4, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 169558
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA73AS025
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA73AS025

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0117  73/2/17    BATTLE GRND,WASH    AERO COMDR 680F     CR-  1  0  0  NONCOMMERCIAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 33, 2000
        TIME - 0859                    N69HE               PX-  2  0  0  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 9 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SALEM,OREG                  SEATTLE,WASH
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           AIRFRAME FAILURE: IN FLIGHT                              IN FLIGHT: UNCONTROLLED DESCENT
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
           PILOT IN COMMAND - EXCEEDED DESIGNED STRESS LIMITS OF AIRCRAFT
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - OVERLOAD FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH AIRCRAFT
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - RAIN
           WEATHER - ICING CONDITIONS-INCLUDES SLEET,FREEZING RAIN,ETC.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - AIRFRAME ICE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        WEATHER BRIEFING - BRIEFED BY FLIGHT SERVICE PERSONNEL, BY PHONE
        WEATHER FORECAST - FORECAST SUBSTANTIALLY CORRECT
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OVERCAST                                                  500
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          ZERO                                                     RAIN SHOWERS
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
          NONE                                                     IFR
        TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR
        REMARKS- PLT DECLARED ICING PROB.WAS RET TO PORTLAND.BOTH OUTBD WGS AND HORIZ STABS SEP.LACKED INST RECENCY
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N69HE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N69HE-1973-06-25), registration cancelled 1973-06-25, S/N 680F-932-5 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 680F
- Registry model: [Aero Commander 680-F](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-680-f) (registry code 0141606) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19730217005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19730217005079A), Feb 17, 1973: Rkwell 680FLP, Battle Grnd, WA, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Plt declared icing prob. Was ret to portland. Both outbd wgs and horiz stabs sep. Lacked inst recency

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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