Crescent City - Palatka

On December 3, 2013 at 09:37 AM, Crescent City - Palatka experienced a crash involving Rockwell Grand Commander 680, operated by Frits G. H. Abbing, with the event recorded near Crescent City Florida.

The flight was categorized as private and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The pilot reported that the airplane "hesitated" during the takeoff roll due to the added weight of the passengers on board and the grass surface of the departure airstrip (Jim Finlay Farm Airstrip). He said he then added "extra" engine power at rotation, and that the left engine accelerated more quickly than the right, which resulted in an adverse yaw to the right and collision with trees along the right side of the runway. The subsequent collision with trees and terrain resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. According to the pilot, there were no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.

Aircraft reference details include registration N71DF, MSN 680E-672-12, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 29.4303°, -81.5106°.