Aero Commander 690 accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, November 12, 2018
On November 12, 2018 at about 7:15 pm local time, a 1981 Aero Commander 690, registered N840JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (IFR final approach) near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (Myrtle Beach Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with low-level windshear and turbulence during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2018 · about 7:15 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina · Myrtle Beach Intl · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 690 C, built 1981 · all 690s on the register
- Registration
- N840JC · no longer on the register · serial 11676
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was approaching the airport to land in instrument meteorological conditions when he encountered heavy turbulence. He continued the approach and the airplane started to descend rapidly. Although he added full power in an attempt to climb, the airplane continued to descend until it collided with the Atlantic Ocean. The forward portion of the fuselage, which included the cockpit separated from the airplane. The pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane before the accident. Review of weather information for the area of the airport about the time of the accident revealed light to moderate precipitation with a high potential for moderate turbulence and low-level wind shear below about 2,000 ft. Radar imagery did not reveal signatures typically associated with microburst activity. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot encountered low-level windshear and turbulence during the approach, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
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
What happened, in order
- Turbulence encounter during approach (IFR final approach) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (IFR final approach)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (IFR final approach)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Clear air turbulence › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,335 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,441.1 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 14, 2018; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,635 lb
- Seats: 13
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Airesearch TPE33110T511K (turboprop); 8,326 hours total
- Engine 2: Airesearch TPE331-5-252M (turboprop); 8,349 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CBE Cumberland MD at 4:29 pm
- Destination: MYR Myrtle Beach SC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 36, 9,503 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from KMYR, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – View of airplane on the beach submerged in sand showing damage to cockpit (FAA photo)
Photo 2 – Front view of airplane showing broken away cockpit(FAA photo)
Photo 3 – View of aft of airplane showing substantial damage to right horizontal stabilizer
Photo 4 – View of front cockpit and cabin damage
Photo 5 – View of airplane submerged in water after accidentThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on January 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Witness Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum of Weather | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Fuel Recovery Memorandum | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Photo Array | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N840JC the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N840JC: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Aero Commander 690 25 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Airesearch TPE33110T511K 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Airesearch TPE331-5-252M 8 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Myrtle Beach International · nearest airport
- Greater Cumberland Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in South Carolina 1,036 since 1982 · 173 in the last ten years
- South Carolina 3,112 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N840JC 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA19LA043.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.