Rockwell Aero Commander 690A, Bishop, Calif., Aug. 11, 2002–Well known wilderness photographers Galen and Barbara Rowell, another passenger and the commercial-rated pilot were killed when their Aero Commander 690A crashed about 0123 PDT. The aircraft, N690TB, owned and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it crashed at Bishop Airport (BIH) following an in-flight loss of control during a descending turn in the airport’s traffic pattern. The airplane was being operated under Part 91 and VMC prevailed during the night flight. No flight plan had been filed for the flight, which originated in Oakland, Calif., 50 min earlier.
Witnesses said the aircraft entered the pattern normally, turned onto base leg and began a descent. When it turned onto final approach for Runway 30, the airplane’s bank angle suddenly increased until reaching between 70 and 90 deg. It then rapidly descended before hitting the ground about 1.6 nm southeast of the runway threshold. NTSB investigators found fuel in the vicinity of both engines, though there was no post-crash fire.
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