San Andros

The twin engine airplane departed Nassau-Lynden Pindling Airport runway 14 at 1230LT on a flight to San Andros, carrying nine passengers and one pilot. Following a short 20-minute flight at an altitude of 2,300 feet, the pilot initiated a left hand circuit and the approach to runway 12 when the airplane crashed in a wooded area located about one km short of runway, bursting into flames. A passenger was seriously injured while nine other occupants were killed. Few hours later, the only survivor died from injuries sustained.

On September 9, 1999, about 1915 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-31-310, N6579L, registered to Webs Planes, Inc., operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed about 50 yards east of San Andros Airport, Andros Island, Bahamas, following an inflight explosion and cockpit fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed by ground fire and the commercially-rated pilot and six passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Nassau, New Providence, about 1910. According to the pilot, at about 15 miles from his destination, San Andros, he heard a loud explosion from under the floor, and then experienced fire in the cockpit. Attempts at extinguishing the fire were negative and he began to lose engine power. He tried to make the runway at San Andros, but impacted mangrove growth east of the airport, instead. He stated he thought the problem may have been a short circuit in electrical wiring under the airplane's floorboards.

Upon landing at Marsh Harbour, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All eight occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While in cruising flight, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to reduce his altitude and to ditch the aircraft off San Andros. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft was lost.