Twin Commander Acft 695A N269M

Summary

On 21 January 1998 at about 20:34 local time, a Twin Commander Acft 695A registered N269M, operated by Michael D. Mintz, was involved in an accident near Delray Beach, Florida, United States. 3 people were on board and 3 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 January 1998 at 20:34

Classification

Accident

Location

Delray Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Boca Raton (BCT)

Coordinates

26.4596, -80.1109

Aircraft

Twin Commander Acft 695A

Registration

N269M

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Michael D. Mintz

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boca Raton → Lawrenceville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL98FA036

3 people died.

The pilot flew into known convective meterological conditions and lost control of the airplane. Factors were low clouds, and moderate to heavy rain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot had received a weather briefing and was aware of the weather conditions west and north of the airport. The pilot was issued the flight clearance as filed, and was assigned an initial altitude of 2000 feet. Approximately five minutes into the flight, the air traffic controller questioned the pilot concerning the assigned heading. The controller stated that the pilot 'sounded extremely strained' and replied, 'N269M is in trouble.' Radar altitude data showed a rapid loss of altitude for N269M; the last radar altitude data showed the flight at 2800 feet. The airplane collided with the ground in a nose low attitude. Weather radar data from the Miami Weather Surveillance Radar-1988, Doppler (WSR-88D) showed a large, intense convective cell just west of Boca Raton between 1530:15 and 1535:57. Moderate to very heavy rain showers were associated with the convective activity. A review of the radar data showed that N269M was 3.5 to 4.0 miles north of the core of the large convective cell.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.