Aircraft
Factual Report: Fatal on base to final
ROCKWELL AERO COMMANDER 690A, BISHOP, CALIF., AUG.

ROCKWELL AERO COMMANDER 690A, BISHOP, CALIF., AUG. 11, 2002–At about 1:23 a.m. Aero Commander N690TB crashed near Bishop Airport (BIH). The accident occurred during a descending turn between base and final approach. The twin turboprop was destroyed, and the pilot and three passengers were killed. The airplane was owned by the pilot, who was operating it under Part 91. VMC prevailed during the nighttime flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The aircraft departed from Oakland, Calif., at about 12:31 a.m. with three passengers and several hundred pounds of baggage.

At no time during the flight did the pilot report difficulty with the airplane. At 1:16 a.m. he told Oakland Center that he had Bishop in sight and was starting a VFR descent from 17,500 feet. As the aircraft descended through 16,000 feet, the controller terminated radar service, advised the pilot to change frequency and provided the Fresno altimeter setting, 29.81 inches.

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