Aero Commander 690 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, October 15, 1996
On October 15, 1996 at about 10:00 am local time, a Aero Commander 690, registered N15VZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the main landing gear to fully engage in the down-and-locked position for undetermined reason(s). Loss of hydraulic pressure to the main gear for undetermined reasons(s) was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 1996 · about 10:00 am local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Sky Harbor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 690 · all 690s on the register
- Registration
- N15VZ · no longer on the register · serial 11035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during flight, the nose gear dropped from the wheel well, he noted the hydraulic pressure had dropped to 600 psi, & the landing gear in-transit light illuminated. He said he accomplished emergency procedures, but was unable get the main landing gear to lock in the down position. The main landing gear collapsed during touchdown, & the belly of the airplane was damaged. The brake & landing gear systems were powered by 2 engine driven pumps (1 on each engine) & an auxillary (electrical) pump. For backup operation, gas pressure from an emergency nitrogen storage cylinder was continuously provided to a 2nd set of main gear actuators to provide pressure for main gear extension. During gear retraction, nitrogen was compressed back into the nitrogen cylinder. During extension, hydraulic pressure & nitrogen pressure work together to extend the main gear. After the accident, a hydraulic fluid leak was found at a hydraulic line fitting on the right main landing gear brake system, but no other leak was found. The leak was repaired, & the landing gear was functionally checked; the retraction & extension cycle functioned normally, & no system fault was found. No reason was found to explain why gas pressure from the emergency nitrogen storage cylinder did not lock the main gear in the down position.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,326 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 4,210 as pilot in command; 924 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,250 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sun West Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: SOW Show Low AZ at 8:58 am
- Destination: PHX
- Runway 26R, 11,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from PHX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 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.