Gold Beach - Medford

On February 9, 1985 at 12:48 PM, Gold Beach - Medford experienced a crash involving Rockwell Grand Commander 680, operated by Mercy Flights, with the event recorded near Medford-Rogue Valley Oregon.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 4 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: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot reported a loss of power on both engines during descent to land. Approximately 3 minutes prior, tower gave pilot option of 'straight-in' to runway 14 or regular pattern to runway 32. The pilot hesitated and said 'just a minute' and tower offered wind info as '210 at 13.' Pilot replied, 'kay.' Approximately 1 minute later pilot said '33W will make a left base for 14.' Tower cleared him and declared visual contact. Pilot acknowledged '3 whiskey.' One minute and 54 seconds later, pilot declared power loss and emergency. Tower rogered. Seven seconds later, pilot said 'gonna hit it' followed 2 seconds later with an unintelligible comment. Witnesses saw the aircraft gliding wings level toward runway when a loud 'rev' was heard, the aircraft pitched up and rolled left to an inverted position before ground contact and explosion. Post accident investigation did not disclose any engine or fuel system malfunction. This aircraft had experienced a power loss after descending from 15,500 to 12,000 feet msl on 2/2/85 with the same pilot as reported by the copilot on that flight. After approximately 1 1/2 minutes power was restored. All four occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N233W, MSN 680-1284-129, year of manufacture 1963.