Aero Commander 680FLP accident near Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, March 13, 1998
On March 13, 1998 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Aero Commander 680FLP, registered N777MX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin (Fond Du Lac County airport). It was an executive or corporate flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudged weather evaluation . Factors were turbulence, the pilot's inability to attain a proper climb rate, unsuitable terrain encountered in the landing area, and crops.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 1998 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin · Fond Du Lac County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 680FLP · all 680FLPs on the register
- Registration
- N777MX · registry record · serial 1507-20
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane took off on runway 18 with winds reported to be 190 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 21 knots. The pilot said that during initial climb to 200 feet AGL, he encountered turbulence and was unable to maintain flight. He made a precautionary landing in a cornfield about one-quarter mile off the end of the runway.
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: 1,540 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 1,370 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 8,500 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FLD at 7:15 pm
- Destination: DCA Washington DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 18, 5,940 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 14 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 0.8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 25°F (-4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from FLD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.