Aero Commander 500B accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO, May 12, 1999
On May 12, 1999 at about 12:59 pm local time, a Aero Commander 500B, registered N6138X, was destroyed in an accident near Atlantic Ocean, AO (Nassau International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
an in-flight collision with water for undetermined reasons, due to the wreckage never being recovered from the water.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1999 · about 12:59 pm local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, AO · Nassau International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 500B · all 500Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6138X · no longer on the register · serial 927-10
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight was on approach, and the pilot was in radio contact with approach control. For unknown reasons the pilot performed a 360-degree turn, without permission from the controller, and was then vectored to a different runway. After acknowledging the clearance to the new runway, the controller lost all contact with the flight. None of the radio communications indicated that the pilot was having mechanical or medical problems. A search was initiated by air and a debris field was located. Five yellow life jackets, 1 six man life raft, several unidentified pieces of white and gold airframe were recovered. The pilot and the wreckage were never recovered from the water. At the time of the accident the pilot's license had been suspended by the FAA.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 6,750 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-B1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Opa-Locka FL
- Destination: MYNN Nassau OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 8,235 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.