Crash of a Britten Norman BN-2B-26 Islander in Montserrat

Date & Time: Sep 29, 2021 at 1733 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J8-VBI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint John’s – Montserrat
MSN:
2025
YOM:
1981
Flight number:
SVD207
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2650
Captain / Total hours on type:
712.00
Circumstances:
After an uneventful return flight to Barbuda, the aircraft departed Antigua at 2114 hrs (1714 hrs local) for John A Osborne Airport, Montserrat, with the pilot and six passengers on board. The aircraft cruised at 2,000 ft enroute and the pilot recalled there were good visual meteorological conditions throughout the 19 minute flight. On arriving at Montserrat there were no other aircraft operating in the vicinity of the airport and the pilot positioned the aircraft visually on a downwind leg for Runway 10. The pilot reported he commenced the approach, flying an approach speed of 65 kt, reducing to 60 kt as the aircraft touched down. The runway surface was dry and the pilot described the landing as “smooth”. After the main landing gear touched down, but prior to the nosewheel contacting the runway, the pilot applied the brakes. He reported that the left brake felt “spongy” and did not seem to act, but that the right brake felt normal. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft which veered to the right two seconds after touchdown, departing the runway a further three seconds later. The aircraft continued across the adjacent grassed area before impacting an embankment close to the runway. After the aircraft had come to a stop, the pilot shut down the engines using the normal shut down procedure. The left main gear had collapsed and rendered the left cabin exit unusable. The pilot evacuated through the flight deck door which was on the left of the aircraft. The six passengers were able to evacuate through the right cabin exit. The airport fire service then arrived at the aircraft, less than one minute after the accident.
Probable cause:
On landing at John A. Osborne Airport, Montserrat, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft, later reporting the left brake felt “spongy”. The aircraft veered off the right side of the runway and came to rest in an adjacent drainage ditch. An inspection of the aircraft’s braking system revealed a slight brake fluid leak from one of the pistons in the left outboard brake calliper. This would have prevented full brake pressure being achieved on the left brakes, resulting in an asymmetric braking effect. Difficulty in maintaining directional control was compounded by the use of an incorrect braking technique on landing. The investigation identified shortcomings with the operator’s manuals, procedures and regulatory oversight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 707-121B on Mt La Soufrière: 30 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1965 at 0725 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N708PA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Fort-de-France – Saint John’s – Christiansted – San Juan – New York
MSN:
17586
YOM:
1957
Flight number:
PA292
Country:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
30
Captain / Total flying hours:
15355
Captain / Total hours on type:
297.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
181
Aircraft flight hours:
19127
Circumstances:
PanAm Flight PA292 was a scheduled service from Fort-de-France, Martinique to New York with en route stops at Saint John's, Antigua, Christiansted, St Croix, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. An IFR flight plan had been filed for the 30-minute leg to Antigua. Cruising altitude would be FL165. The airplane christened 'Clipper Constitution' departed Fort-de-France's runway 27 at 0704LT. Cruising altitude was reached at 0709. The crew established radio contact with the Antigua controller at 0715. The controller cleared the flight to the Coolidge NDB beacon at 2 500 feet and told the crew to report at the beacon outbound leaving 2 500 feet or field in sight. At approximately 0725 the flight reported through FL40 with the field not yet in sight. At the same time the airplane was observed flying along the coast of the island of Montserrat in rain and below the clouds with landing gear down and flaps partially extended. Shortly afterwards the airplane struck a mountain at an elevation of 2 760 feet asl and 242 feet below the summit. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 30 occupants have been killed. Weather was poor at the time of the accident with thunderstorms activity, towering cumulus and heavy rain falls.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of the aircraft descending below a safe height when its position had not been accurately established.
Final Report: