Crash of a Boeing 727-95 in Charlotte Amalie: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1976 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1963
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Providence - New York - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
19837/499
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
AA625
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
81
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
22225
Captain / Total hours on type:
10000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2500
Aircraft flight hours:
21926
Circumstances:
American Airlines Flight 625 was a scheduled flight from Providence Airport (PVD) to St.Thomas (STT) on the U.S Virgin Islands with an intermediate stop in New York (JFK). The Boeing 727 departed New York at 12:00 AST. On approach to St. Thomas, at 15:04, the flight crew cancelled their IFR flight plan and proceeded VFR. The captain elected to use the runway 09 ILS for vertical guidance. The glide slope was intercepted at 1500 feet msl (flaps 15° and at a 160 KIAS airspeed). The flaps were lowered to 25 and later to 30 degrees. The company prescribed 40 degrees was never selected. The speed was still 10 KIAS above Vref when the aircraft passed the threshold at an estimated altitude of 30-40 feet. At 1000 feet down the runway, while initiating the flare, turbulence caused the right wing to drop. The wings were leveled and the aircraft floated a while until touchdown 2200-2300 feet down the runway. The captain decided that the aircraft couldn't be stopped on the remaining runway. He immediately initiated a go-around. Because of the absence of any sensation either of power being applied or of aircraft acceleration, the throttles were closed again. The aircraft, in a 11 degree nose up attitude, ran off the runway and struck a localizer antenna. The right wingtip clipped a hillside just south of the antenna and the aircraft continued, hit an embankment, became airborne and contacted the ground on the opposite side of the perimeter road. The aircraft continued and came to rest 83 feet past the perimeter road, bursting into flames.
Probable cause:
The captain's actions and his judgment in initiating a go-around maneuver with insufficient runway remaining after a long touchdown. The long touchdown is attributed to a deviation from prescribed landing techniques and an encounter with an adverse wind condition, common at the airport. The non-availability of information about the aircraft's go-around performance capabilities may have been a factor in the captain's abortive attempt to go-around a long landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Christiansted: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1976 at 1633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4772C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - Christiansted
MSN:
B131
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
13628
Captain / Total hours on type:
3048.00
Circumstances:
En route from Charlotte Amalie to Christiansted, the right engine failed. The pilot feathered the propeller and later attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed into the Caribbean Sea off St Croix Island. The airplane sank and was not recovered. Five passengers were drowned while five other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Rough water,
- Unscheduled feather right propeller undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1975 at 1129 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N118DW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dorado - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
239
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
596.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport in good weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC that both engines failed simultaneously. Realizing it would not be possible to reach the airport, the pilot decided to ditch the aircraft few km offshore. The airplane slid on water for few meters before coming to rest. All seven occupants evacuated the cabin and were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. The wreckage was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Aircraft not recovered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1974 at 1931 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N864JA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Christiansted - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
175
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3225
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Charlotte Amalie by night while on a cargo flight from Christiansted, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later a no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Culebra Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1971 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N703A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – Fajardo
MSN:
B081
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5582
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
While flying along the coast of Culebra Island on a flight from Charlotte Amalie to Fajardo, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the airplane that struck the water surface, crashed few dozen yards offshore and sank rapidly. Nine occupants were injured, five of them seriously while two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for undetermined reason.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 in Charlotte Amalie: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1971 at 1726 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N456T
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - San Juan
MSN:
BA-173
YOM:
1956
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
14563
Captain / Total hours on type:
2400.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 10 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot elected to maintain control when the airplane stalled and crashed onto the Island Beachcomber Hotel located along the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed. Fortunately, there were no victims on the ground.
Probable cause:
Engine malfunction during initial climb and loss of control. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Powerplant failure, engine structure, piston and piston rings,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Powerplant - lubricating system, filters, screen,
- The right engine piston tops were eroded, pieces of rings were missing,
- The right propeller could not be feathered,
- The landing gear were still down at impact.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2A7 in Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1970 at 1442 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8790R
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
20240/717
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
TBB505
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
48
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
10666
Captain / Total hours on type:
169.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
21016
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1126
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown on runway 09 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the airplane bounced twice and eventually landed firmly after a course of 2,700 feet (runway 09 is 4,650 feet long). At this time, the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane overran, went through a fence and a road before coming to rest in flames against a hill. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The captain's use of improper techniques in recovering from a high bounce generated by a poorly executed approach and touchdown. Lack of cockpit crew coordination during the approach and attempted recovery contributed to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Stewart-Davis PBY-5A Super Catalina in Christiansted

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1970 at 0803 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5584V
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – Christiansted
MSN:
1846
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching the seaplane base of Christiansted, the crew suspected technical problems with the undercarriage and decided to divert to Christiansted-Alexander Hamilton Airport. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the seaplane came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left main gear upon landing due to the failure of the upper end hydraulic actuator. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear failure,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Corrosion,
- Improper maintenance of the aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Precautionary landing on airport following a suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Gear overdue 1,700 hours overhaul by 801 hours.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK off San Juan

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1970 at 0936 LT
Registration:
N1549V
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
13480
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1100.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Juan-Isla Verde Airport, the crew ditched the aircraft into the sea. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
The crew intentionally ditched the aircraft for unknown reason. Investigations revealed there was no emergency landing needed and that the aircraft was capable to continue normal operations.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-33CF off Charlotte Amalie: 23 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1970 at 1549 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N935F
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Saint Marteen
MSN:
47407/457
YOM:
1969
Flight number:
LM980
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
57
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
12000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1700.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
600
Aircraft flight hours:
2505
Circumstances:
ALM flight 980, from New York-JFK International Airport to Juliana Airport, St.Maarten, was being operated under terms of a lease agreement, utilizing an ONA aircraft and flight crew, and an ALM cabin crew. ALM 980 established radio contact with Juliana Tower and received clearance for an Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) approach to runway 09. The weather was reported as scattered clouds at 800 feet, estimated ceiling 1,000 feet broken, 5,000 feet overcast, and visibility 2 to 3 miles. The crew sighted the runway too late to land successfully on this approach, and attempted two left turn, visual circling approaches. The first circling approach was abandoned because of poor alignment with the runway again and on the second one the captain was unable to maintain the proper descent profile without reducing power and increasing the sink rate beyond acceptable limits. The captain executed a missed approach, made a low altitude return to the St. Maarten Radio Beacon, and was given clearance to St. Thomas at an assigned altitude of 4,000 feet. The fuel gauges were reported to have been acting erratically during the climb, but momentarily stabilized at 850 pounds of fuel remaining. A higher altitude was requested and a course adjustment was made for St. Croix, which was closer. Although the captain doubted the accuracy of the fuel gauge reading, he decided to descend in order to establish visual contact with the water. He also advised the purser that they were low on fuel, and to prepare the cabin for ditching. The purser made this announcement, and no other warning was given to the passengers prior to impact. The ditching site was confirmed on radar with the assistance of a PanAm flight that diverted for that purpose. Other fixed-wing aircraft orbited the area until the US Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps helicopters began picking up survivors. Weather in the area during the rescue operation was estimated to be 400 to 500 feet overcast and visibility as low as three-eighths of a mile in rain. The aircraft sank in water more than 5,000 feet deep, and was not recovered.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion which resulted from continued, unsuccessful attempts to land at St. Maarten until insufficient fuel remained to reach an alternate airport. A contributing factor was the reduced visibility in the approach zone because of rain showers, a condition not reported to the flight. The Board also finds that the probability of survival would have been increased substantially in this accident if there had been better crew coordination prior to and during the ditching.
Final Report: