NTSB Factual Report

On November 30, 2016, about 1730 mountain standard time, an Aero Commander 690, N9175N, was substantially damaged during a runway excursion after landing at the Scottsdale Airport (SDL), Scottsdale, Arizona. The airplane was registered to and operated by Air West Inc., and was on a maintenance relocation flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The airline transport pilot was the sole occupant, and was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The flight originated from Safford Regional Airport, Safford, Arizona, about 1700.

According to the pilot, the landing on runway 21 was normal and he intended to exit to a taxiway left of the runway; however, shortly after applying reverse thrust, the airplane veered to the right. The pilot applied corrective actions (rudder and brake) to compensate for the veer, but subsequently made a decision to enter the runway safety area (RSA) near taxiway A11, to avoid hitting a runway sign. He also stated that as the airplane entered the RSA, the landing gear sunk deep into the sand and rock. As the airplane came to a stop, about 30 feet into RSA, both propeller blades contacted sand and rocks. The left propeller blades impacted fist sized river rocks sending shards into the left side of the fuselage. The RSA material in this area consisted of about 6 inches of sand and rock covering a layer of fist sized river rock.

The airplane was removed from the RSA, and towed to a non-movement area on the airport.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the left side of the fuselage had impact damage. Several rocks had entered the fuselage through the skin and side windows from the pilot seat rearward to below the wing. Several structural members were compromised from the damage.