Aero Commander 680 accident near Jacksonville, Alabama, July 15, 1983
On July 15, 1983 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander 680, registered N6256D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Jacksonville, Alabama (Jacksonville Muni airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1983 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Jacksonville, Alabama · Jacksonville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680 · all 680s on the register
- Registration
- N6256D · no longer on the register · serial 524-194
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE TAKEOFF, THE ACFT HAD APRX 40 GAL OF FUEL IN THE MAIN TANKS & 10 GAL WAS ADDED TO EACH OF THE AUXILIARY TANKS. THE PLT TOOK OFF IN HAZY CONDITIONS FOR A SHORT FLT OF APPRX 10 MIN. WHILE ON DOWNWIND FOR A LANDING, HE SWITCHED FROM THE AUXILIARY TO THE MAIN TANKS. AS THE ACFT TURNED TO FINAL APCH, BOTH ENGS LOST POWER, SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGS & LANDED THE ACFT SHORT OF THE RWY. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR FAILED. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGS & FUEL SYS REVEALED NO PREIMPACT DISCREPANCIES. THE RIGHT ENG WAS STARTED & IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE LEFT ENG COULD NOT BE STARTED DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,263 hours in all; 176 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 1,160 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1983; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming GSO-480-31A6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 64A Jacksonville AL
- Destination: AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.