Rockwell Aero Commander 500 crash, Jan 16, 2008 (1 killed)
Rockwell Aero Commander 500 accident on January 16, 2008 near Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States with 1 fatality. Cause: Loss of control by the pilot due...
- Date: January 16, 2008
- Aircraft: Rockwell Aero Commander 500
- Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
- Fatalities: 1
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Loss of control by the pilot due to spatial disorientation, with the pilot exceeding the aircraft's design stress limits. The reported gyro problem, the dark night and instrument meteorological conditions were contributing factors.
A Rockwell Aero Commander 500B flying a night cargo charter for Central Air Southwest left Tulsa on an instrument flight in cloud and broke up in the air less than four minutes after takeoff. The pilot reported a gyro problem and lost control in a right turn before both wings and the tail separated. The wreckage showed overload failure from positive loading, and the pilot was killed.