What happened
On the afternoon of September 16, 2003, an Aero Commander 690 was involved in a fatal accident during a departure from an airstrip located near Soto La Marina, in the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico. The aircraft, registration N302WB, was being operated by MGS Corporation of Laredo, Texas, for a business flight intended for Laredo, Texas. No flight plan had been filed for this mission, and weather conditions at the time were characterized by visual meteorological conditions.
During the takeoff sequence, the aircraft struck trees and the ground, leading to the destruction of the plane. The pilot, who was the only person on board, sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The aircraft was registered to QEAT-4 LLC. based in Naples, Florida.
Findings
Prior to the accident, the aircraft had undergone maintenance to address mechanical issues. Specifically, the nose landing gear had sustained damage, and the owner had performed a replacement of the nose landing gear assembly before the flight attempt. The impact with the terrain and vegetation was the primary factor in the loss of the aircraft.