Burbank - Santa Maria

On September 24, 1980 at 07:47 PM, Burbank - Santa Maria experienced a crash involving Rockwell Aero Commander 500, operated by Commander 6206, with the event recorded near Santa Maria California.

The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Santa Maria, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling and a limited visibility due to fog. He initiated a go-around manoeuvre and started a second ILS approach few minutes later. In a visibility limited to two miles or less, he failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck a mountain slope located about six miles from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N6206X, MSN 500-1072-50, year of manufacture 1961.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 34.9531°, -120.4359°.