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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2012 · about 11:00 pm local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Ellensburg, Washington · Bowers Field Airport · cases near this 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 other cases naming the flight controls
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on June 14, 2013. 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 | Materials Laboratory 15 - Factual Report of Group Chairman (2 Embedded Images) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N57112 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Rockwell International 690 114 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Rockwell International 657 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-5 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Garrett TPE 331-5 7 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Bowers Field · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,664 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR12LA428.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.