Rockwell International 690A accident near Ellensburg, Washington, September 16, 2012
On September 16, 2012 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Rockwell International 690A, registered N57112, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Ellensburg, Washington (Bowers Field Airport). It was an aerial observation flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to avoid a turbulent smoke column, which resulted in an overstress failure of the left aileron control rod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · Bowers Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International 690A · all 690As on the register
- Registration
- N57112 · registry record · serial 11263
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while in a right turn at 7,500 feet mean sea level and above a land wildfire, the airplane entered a turbulent, dark, narrow, column of smoke. The pilot leveled the wings and continued flight through the turbulent column. When the airplane exited the column, the pilot noticed that he had to make a significant right flight control input to maintain level flight. He made a precautionary landing without further incident. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left aileron control rod was separated along the threaded portion of the shaft, about 2.5 inches from the rod end. Subsequent examination of both pieces of the aileron control rod revealed fracture surfaces consistent with overstress, with no indications of previous wear, fatigue, or corrosion. Thus, it is likely that the turbulence encountered while flying through the smoke column was sufficient to overstress the left aileron control rod.
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 maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › (general) › Effect on operation
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Aileron control system › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 19,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,462 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 4, 2012; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,250 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Garrett TPE 331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Garrett TPE 331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Courtney Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: ELN Ellensburg WA at 10:45 pm
- Destination: ELN Ellensburg WA
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from ELN, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR12LA428.