Background
According to the aircraft owner, he and the pilot had flown from Albany, Georgia, to swap a Piper PA-28 for an Aero Commander 680. Before completing the trade, the previous owner reconstructed a set of maintenance logs that showed the estimated total airframe time and engine serial numbers. The owner assumed the airplane was airworthy. The pilot was not rated in the Aero Commander, so they decided to taxi the airplane on the ramp and runway to gain experience.
Accident Sequence
While taxiing at a high rate of speed on runway 09, the owner reported that a gust of wind caught the airplane as the taxi speed approached 65 mph. The pilot lost control as the airplane became airborne. The airplane rotated to the right, and the right wing struck the ground. The airplane then cartwheeled to a stop, facing the opposite direction.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage did not disclose any mechanical malfunction. Reportedly, the pilot completed a preflight inspection, but the examination revealed a large bird's nest in the sump area of the left engine and a missing exhaust manifold. Additionally, the pilot was not multi-engine rated. The pilot was killed, and the passenger sustained serious injuries.