Rockwell 690 accident near Wenatchee, Washington, August 17, 2009
On August 17, 2009 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Rockwell 690, registered N90AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Wenatchee, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness, and thus clearance from objects, while operating at low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2009 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wenatchee, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell 690 A
- Registration
- N90AT · registry record · serial 11272
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a local scenic flight with his family. He flew over nearby mountains, and descended to fly over a local ski resort. A family member reported seeing friends in the resort’s parking lot, and the pilot performed a climbing left turn for another pass. He began looking for his friends, and stated that he failed to monitor his altitude. One wing collided with trees and sustained spar and aileron damage. The pilot landed uneventfully at the departure airport.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 20, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,691 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 21, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 10,250 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garret TPE-331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garret TPE-331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EAT Wenatchee WA at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Wenatchee WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from KEAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.