N1797S

On August 12, 1996, at 1515 central daylight time (cdt), a Aero Commander 600, N1797S, was destroyed during an aerial application flight near Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The airplane struck tress during landing, and was consumed by a post crash fire. The pilot reported a total loss of engine power during the flight. The commercial rated pilot was uninjured in the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that during the emergency descent following the loss of power that he moved the propeller and throttle to their forward positions. The pilot reported that the airplane continued to lose altitude, and he executed an emergency dump of the chemicals on board the airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane impacted small pine trees in a clear cut area of a forrest during landing, and before the airplane came to a stop it was on fire.

The post flight examination conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration, was extremely limited due to the fire damage sustained by the aircraft. All flight control cables were still attached to their surfaces. The instrument panel and instruments were destroyed by fire. The engine was broken loose from its mount, and came to rest inside the chemical hopper. The carburetor, and all engine accessories had melted. Several of the bottom cylinders on the radial engine had separated from the engine. One propeller blade was bent, the other blade did not show any signs of impact damage.