Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 in Santo Domingo

Date & Time: Sep 23, 2010 at 1245 LT
Registration:
N100PV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
500-784
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2500
Captain / Total hours on type:
100.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7810
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Juan-Isla Grande Airport on a private flight to Santo Domingo with two passengers and two pilots on board. On final approach to Santo Domingo-Las Américas-Dr. José Francisco Peña Gómez Airport, at an altitude of 2,000 feet and at a distance of 8 km from the airport, both engines failed simultaneously. As the crew realized he was unable to reach the airport, he attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a dense wooded area located about one km southeast of runway 35 threshold. All four occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure on final approach due to fuel exhaustion. It was determined that prior to takeoff from San Juan Airport, the fuel quantity in the tanks was sufficient for the flight to Santo Domingo. But the fuel cap was missing prior to takeoff and the crew applied some 'duct tape' in an attempt to replace the fuel cap. Despite the aircraft was unworthy, the crew decided to takeoff in such conditions. Because the fuel cap was missing, some fuel leaked in flight, causing both engines to stop on final approach to Santo Domingo Airport.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 208A Caravan I near Pedernales: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 2008
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying at low height in the early morning, the single engine airplane collided with a tree and impacted terrain near Pedernales, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed. Among the debris, a load of 97 kg of cocaine was found, some of this quantity was destroyed by crash fire.

Crash of a Cessna 501 Citation I/SP off Santo Domingo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 2008 at 2029 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N223LC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - San Juan
MSN:
501-0055
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Santo Domingo-Las Améericas Airport at 2026LT on a positioning flight to San Juan, Porto Rico. While climbing in night conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in the sea few km offshore. SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.

Crash of an Ilyushin II-62M in Saint Domingo

Date & Time: Apr 20, 2008 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CU-T1283
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Havana
MSN:
4053823
YOM:
1991
Flight number:
CU201
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
109
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minute after takeoff from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, while cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet, some 83 km from Santo Domingo, the captain informed ATC about the explosion of the engine n°2 and that a cabin decompression occurred. The crew was cleared for an immediate return and the aircraft landed uneventful few minutes later. All 117 occupants evacuated safely. However, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the engines n°2 and n°1 as well as the fuselage because debris of the engine n°2 punctured the fuselage and came to rest in the cabin.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26 Islander in El Prado

Date & Time: Feb 7, 2008 at 1720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-653CA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santiago de los Caballeros – Punta Cana
MSN:
8
YOM:
1967
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
21405
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a touristic flight from Punta Cana to Santiago de los Caballeros and back. During the return flight to Punta Cana, the pilot elected to make a fuel stop at La Romana because he failed to refuel at Santiago de los Caballeros and was aware that the left tank fuel gage was inoperative. En route, the left engine failed. The pilot elected to restart it but without success. He decided to attempt an emergency landing in a sugarcane field located in El Prado. Upon landing, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and slid for few dozen metres before coming to rest. All nine occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred due to the fact that engine # 1 was turned off due to lack of fuel and when making the emergency landing the captain could not keep the aircraft in the correct path of the selected lane for said landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air off Saona Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 2007 at 1217 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
YV2327
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Caracas – La Romana
MSN:
LJ-499
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While descending to La Romana Airport following a flight from Caracas, the crew informed ATC about technical problems and ditched the aircraft about 64 km off Saona Island, southeast of La Romana. One passenger was killed while six other occupants were rescued by Porto Rico Coast Guards.

Crash of a Raytheon 390 Premier I in Santo Domingo

Date & Time: Jan 8, 2003 at 1824 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N390RB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Santo Domingo
MSN:
RB-26
YOM:
2002
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft overran the runway and came to rest in a parking lot, while landing at Herrera International Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot, copilot, and two passengers received minor injuries. The flight originated from Las Americas International Airport, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the same day, about 1810. The pilot stated they made a normal approach and landing on runway 19 at Herrera International Airport. Once on the ground they activated lift dump spoilers, but the system failed. They were unable to stop the airplane on the remaining runway. The airplane came to a stop, inverted beyond a street that is at the end of the runway.

Crash of a Beechcraft B60 Duke off Santo Domingo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 2003 at 2030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HI-774CT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Santo Domingo
MSN:
P-445
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Santo Domingo-Las Américas International Airport on a short flight to the Santo Domingo-Herrera Airport located downtown. Following a night takeoff, the pilot encountered a loss of power on the right engine and was unable to feather its propeller. As the propeller was windmilling, he was unable to maintain a safe altitude and elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed in the sea about 800 metres offshore. The pilot was seriously injured and the passenger was killed.

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain near Cambita Garabitos: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 2002 at 2330 LT
Registration:
N74946
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Nassau - Port-au-Prince
MSN:
31-7305095
YOM:
1973
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On November 3, 2002, at 2330 central standard time, a Piper PA-31-350 twin-engine airplane, N74946, was destroyed upon impact with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power to both engines near Cambita, Dominican Republic. One passenger was fatally injured and the commercial pilot and another passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by an unknown individual. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the international cross country-flight for which an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed. The flight originated in Nassau, The Bahamas, at an undetermined time, with Port-au-Prince at its intended destination; however, the flight proceeded to Santo Domingo, after encountering severe weather conditions at Port-au-Prince.

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 500 near Puerto Plata: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 2001 at 0815 LT
Operator:
Registration:
HI-535SP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - Puerto Plata
MSN:
500-840
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While descending to Puerto Plata Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to low clouds and fog. The twin engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Loma del Toro located few km from Puerto Plata and was destroyed. All seven occupants were killed. The crew started the approach prematurely and descended too low in poor visibility.