Aero Commander 690 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, December 1, 2016
On December 1, 2016, a 1973 Aero Commander 690, registered N9175N, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in the runway excursion onto the rock-covered runway safety area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 1, 2016 · cases in 2016
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 690 UNDESIGNAT, built 1973 · all 690s on the register
- Registration
- N9175N · no longer on the register · serial 11071
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during the landing roll, he commanded reverse thrust and lightly applied brake pressure. While he was reaching for the condition levers to bring the propellers back to low rpm, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot applied left braking action and adjusted the engines to low rpm, but the airplane continued to veer toward the right side of the runway and a runway sign. The pilot reported that he could have either gotten more aggressive with the corrective actions and hope to avoid striking the sign, or allow the airplane to exit the runway onto what he thought was a hard, smooth surface. The pilot chose to exit the runway surface, and the airplane entered the runway safety area, which had a rock layer that consisted of river rock. The landing gear sunk deep into the rocks, which quickly slowed the airplane to a stop. Several rocks penetrated the fuselage, which resulted in substantial damage. A postaccident examination of the steering and brake system revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Debris/dirt/foreign object › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,654 hours in all; 322 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 4,654 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 10,251 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TPE 331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TPE 331-5 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air West INC
The flight
- Departed from: SAD Safford AZ
- Destination: SDL Scottsdale AZ
- Runway 21, 8,249 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from KSDL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Airport Ops, Onsite Photo
Photo 2 - Airport Ops, Onsite Photo
Photo 3 - Airport Ops, Onsite PhotoThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 8, 2020. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Response Letter | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | NTSB Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Onsite Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | 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
- N9175N: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Aero Commander 690 25 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Honeywell TPE 331-5 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Honeywell TPE 331-5 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Scottsdale Airport · nearest airport
- Safford RGNL/1LT Duane Spalsbury Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Arizona 2,985 since 1982 · 468 in the last ten years
- Arizona 8,431 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/WPR17LA030.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.