Crash of a Cessna 402C in Virgin Gorda

Date & Time: Feb 11, 2017 at 2004 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N603AB
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – Virgin Gorda
MSN:
402C-0603
YOM:
1982
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
5458
Captain / Total hours on type:
809.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was flying from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to Virgin Gorda (VIJ) in the British Virgin Islands. There were eight passengers on board, together with the pilot. It was the pilot’s eleventh flight of the day, and his fourth flight to Virgin Gorda. All these flights were short, with the longest flight being about 40 minutes duration and the shortest just a few minutes. The flight from St Thomas to Virgin Gorda took 35 minutes. The weather in Virgin Gorda was excellent with a light easterly wind and little cloud. The pilot commenced his approach to Virgin Gorda using his usual turning and configuration points. The aircraft touched down normally on runway 03 and the pilot retracted the flaps before applying the brakes. The brakes responded, although the pilot commented that the right brake did not seem to respond as positively as he expected. The pilot reapplied the brakes but the left brake pedal “flopped to the floor”. Judging he had insufficient room to abort the landing, the pilot continued to pump the brakes which he did not consider to be responding. He shut down the engines before the aircraft left the paved surface, struck signage and then a low wall before coming to rest on a bank. The pilot vacated the aircraft through the side window and then opened the main door to allow the passengers to exit the aircraft. None of the occupants was injured. The aircraft was extensively damaged.
Probable cause:
The aircraft landed at Virgin Gorda in conditions (of weight, altitude, temperature and surface condition) where the landing distance required was very close to the landing distance available and without the required safety margin. Hence, when the performance of the brakes was not as expected, probably due to debris in the braking system, the aircraft could not be stopped on the runway. Analysis of the maintenance state of the aircraft involved in this accident indicated that the maintenance capability, processes and planning of its operator were not consistent with the standards expected in conducting international passenger charter services. This appeared also to be the case for the operational procedures and data management.
Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-440-38 Metropolitan off Tortola: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 2004 at 0715 LT
Registration:
N4826C
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Sint Maarten
MSN:
391
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
27200
Captain / Total hours on type:
924.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
256
Aircraft flight hours:
45771
Circumstances:
The copilot stated that the pre-flight and run-up before takeoff were performed with no discrepancies noted. After leveling off at 5,500 feet they noticed that the right engine cylinder head temperature and oil temperature was about 10 degrees above the normal parameter for that engine. Shortly after, both pilot's noticed a sharp decrease in the right engine mean effective pressure followed by vibration in the engine. The co-pilot looked at the right engine and informed the pilot that it was on fire around the front lower cylinders. Attempts by the pilot to extinguish the engine fire were unsuccessful. The pilot advised Air Traffic Control of their intention to ditch due to the right engine uncontrolled fire. The co-pilot, handed a life jacket to the pilot and then put his on. The pilot placed his life preserver to the side and did not put it on. While descending the co-pilot opened his side window, but the pilot did not. According to the co-pilot, shortly before ditching the pilot requested 10-degrees of flaps but the flaps did not move. Both pilots were at the controls of the airplane for the ditching. A review of maintenance records revealed that the right engine was installed on the airframe on May 14, 2003 at 45,660.5 hours total airframe time. A complete "C" Check was accomplished on June 15, 2004 at a total time of 45,741.8 hours with no discrepancies noted. The airplane ditched into the Caribbean Ocean 29 miles southeast of Beef Island, Virgin Islands, in an undetermined depth of water, neither the pilot or the airplane wreckage was recovered.
Probable cause:
The in-flight fire on the number two engine, for undetermined reasons.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander off Beef Island

Date & Time: Jan 18, 2002 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N616GL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tortola - Tortola
MSN:
616
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On January 18, 2002 at 1440 eastern standard time, a Britten-Norman BN2-A, N616GL, operated by Fly BVI Inc,. under the provision Title 14 CFR Part 135, as a sightseeing flight, ditched off Beef Island, British Virgin Islands, following a loss of engine power on both engines. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The air transport pilot and his passengers were not injured. The flight departed Beef Island, British Virgin Islands, at 1400. According to the pilot, during a sightseeing tour the airplane experience a total loss of power on both engines at the same time. The pilot contacted the Beef Island control tower and declared an emergency and gave his position report. He then stated his intentions to ditch the airplane off the coast of Beef Island, British Virgin Islands. The airplane came to rest in six feet of water near the shoreline. During the examination of the airplane by personnel from the Department of Civil Aviation, British Virgin Islands, approximately 23 gallons of fuel were discovered in each fuel tank.

Crash of a De Havilland DHC-6 Vista Liner 300 in Virgin Gorda

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1996 at 0600 LT
Registration:
N143SA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Virgin Gorda - Christiansted
MSN:
591
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On April 7, 1996, about 0600 Atlantic standard time, N143SA, a De Havilland DH6, operated by Dolphin Express Airlines crashed on takeoff roll at Virgin Gorda Airport, British Virgin Islands. The flight was a 14 CFR Part 135 scheduled international passenger commuter flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the captain, first officer, and eight passengers reported no injuries. One passenger received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The captain stated the while on takeoff roll the airplane veered sharply to the left and she could not exercise directional control. The airplane then departed the runway and crashed through a fence, ripping one wing off the airplane. The airplane was equipped with a CVR that is being removed for further readout.

Crash of a Short 330-100 in Tortola

Date & Time: May 6, 1993
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VP-LVR
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tortola - San Juan
MSN:
3006
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at Tortola-Terrance B. Lettsome Airport, the pilot-in-command considered the aircraft behaviour as unsatisfactory and decided to abort. Despite an emergency braking procedure, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in the sea. All 30 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The decision of the crew to abort the takeoff procedure because the aircraft behaviour was unsatisfactory was unfounded. Investigations did not reveal any mechanical malfunction on the airplane and the crew misjudged the situation, causing the aircraft to enter an uncontrollable roll.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Tortola

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N40SB
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
LC-48
YOM:
1960
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Tortola Airport for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Tortola

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1971 at 0951 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N57372
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan - Tortola
MSN:
10136
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4425
Captain / Total hours on type:
1510.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to Tortola-Terrance B. Lettsome Airport, the crew failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground few meters short of runway threshold. The undercarriages were torn off and the aircraft belly landed before coming to rest. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C18S in Beef Island

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1966 at 1455 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N6402C
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4354
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4200
Captain / Total hours on type:
308.00
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Beef Island Airport, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to a halt. While both occupants were slightly injured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair. It was owned by Jose F. Jimenez.
Final Report: