Nanaimo - Kelso

On November 30, 1990 at 06:41 PM, Nanaimo - Kelso experienced a crash involving Rockwell Grand Commander 690, operated by Aero Air - USA, with the event recorded near Ryderwood Washington.

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

6 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 5, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. As the flight was approaching the destination, at night, the pilot obtained vectors for a descent over mountainous terrain. During the approach, he cancelled the IFR flight plan and the aircraft descended below radar coverage. Subsequently, the aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain, northwest of the destination airport. Impact occurred in a wooded area at an elevation of about 2,700 feet. The ELT did not activate during the accident. A search was initiated on 12/1/90, but the aircraft and surviving passenger were not found until the next day. The Canadian ATP pilot and other four passengers were fatally injured. After initial impact with trees, the main portion of the fuselage traveled about 1,000 feet before coming to rest. No preimpact mechanical problem was found.

Aircraft reference details include registration N400N, MSN 690-11156, year of manufacture 1974.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 46.3751°, -123.0443°.