Aero Commander 681B incident near Reno, Nevada, June 29, 1998
On June 29, 1998 at about 7:02 pm local time, a Aero Commander 681B, registered N520CS, suffered minor damage in an incident near Reno, Nevada. It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure and separation of the first and third stage turbine disks for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1998 · about 7:02 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 681B · all 681Bs on the register
- Registration
- N520CS · no longer on the register · serial 6061
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft experienced an uncontained engine failure of the number 2 engine. The pilot returned to the airport and landed. The FAA inspector who examined the aircraft reported that there was a hole approximately 2 to 3 inches in diameter through the turbine section, and the fuselage had about seven puncture holes. The side window had seven holes through it and the pressure vessel had been punctured. The first and third stage turbine disks were not located, nor was the turbine bearing, turbine bearing carrier assembly, aft main shaft section, aft main shaft nut, and turbine bearing scavenge pump.
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, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,094 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,869 as pilot in command; 105 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,060 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 25, 1998; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Medic Air
The flight
- Departed from: RNO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 210 Quincy CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from RNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.