Haiti | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

About 5 hours and 10 minutes after departure, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion at 11,000 feet approximately 40 miles from Haiti. According to the pilot, the aircraft was using more fuel than normal and the destination was changed accordingly. A short time after initiating the divert, both engines quit. The crew made an emergency landing in the sea about 64 km off Port-de-Paix and was rescued. The aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: cruise - normal
Findings
1. (c) fuel consumption calculations - inadequate - pilot in command
2. (f) delayed - pilot in command
3. Initiated - pilot in command
4. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
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Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
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Occurrence #3: ditching
Phase of operation: landing - roll

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B off Port-au-Prince: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1980 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-6

Operator:

JMG

Registration:

N9018N

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cockburn Harbour - Port-au-Prince

MSN:

44425/476

YOM:

1954

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

34000

Captain / Total hours on type:

10000.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Port-au-Prince on a flight from Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos, the crew reported an engine failure. Few minutes later, all communications systems failed. The airplane descended and eventually crashed into the sea few km off shore. Rescuers were dispatched on scene and one pilot was found alive while three other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew was forced to shut down one engine due to oil exhaustion. Later, two other engines should be shut down as well for the same reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Communications and navigation equipment: transmitters and/or receivers failure,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- High oil consumption,
- No oil,
- One engine shut down en route, diverted when two more engines shut down.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Port-au-Prince: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1980 at 2115 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Unknown

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Port-au-Prince-Toussaint Louverture (François Duvalier)

West

Country:

Haiti

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Port-au-Prince-François Duvalier Airport by night, the airplane went out of control, rolled on its back and crashed in flames short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed. A load of marijuana was found on board. It was reported by Haitian Authorities that the pilot did not file any flight plan. The airplane was not scheduled to land at Port-au-Prince Airport and the pilot did not maintain any radio contact with ATC at all.

Crash of a Learjet 25 near Port-au-Prince: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1980 at 2025 LT

Type of aircraft:

Learjet 25

Operator:

Registration:

N211MB

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Miami - Port-au-Prince

MSN:

25-059

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The descent to Port-au-Prince-François Duvalier Airport was initiated by night. For unknown reasons, the airplane was too low and crashed onto houses located about 21 km from the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. For unknown reason, the crew as approaching at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-0 off Haïti: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-240

Operator:

William J. Evans

Registration:

N8330C

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Illegal (smuggling)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

109

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Port-au-Prince Airport on an illegal flight to the US. About 45 minutes after takeoff, the crew declared an emergency and reported a fire on the right engine and right wing. He was cleared to return to Port-au-Prince when the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander in Grande-Rivière-du-Nord: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1980

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Registration:

HH-CNC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port-au-Prince – Cap Haïtien

MSN:

474

YOM:

1975

Location:

Grande-Rivière-du-Nord

North

Country:

Haiti

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain located near Grande-Rivière-du-Nord. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all nine occupants were killed. Visibility was poor due to low ceiling.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando near Port-au-Prince: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1974

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Transportes Aéreos de Integración -TAISA

Registration:

TI-1010C

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port-au-Prince - San José

MSN:

33348

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Port-au-Prince Airport, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The crew lost control of the airplane that crashed onto a mountain slope located few km from the airport. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure during initial climb.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in Dondon: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1973 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Britten-Norman Islander

Operator:

Turks and Caicos Airways - Turks and Caicos National Airline

Registration:

N38JA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Port-au-Prince - Cap Haïtien

MSN:

211

YOM:

1970

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

2268.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Cap Haïtien Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with limited visibility and low clouds. While too low, the twin engine airplane struck a mountain shrouded in clouds and located in Dondon, about 21 km south of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 in Duchity: 30 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1966

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

N4662

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Les Cayes – Jérémie

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after its takeoff from Les Cayes Airport, while climbing, the airplane struck the slope of a mountain located in Duchity. The wreckage was found 15 km northwest of Les Cayes Airport. Five passengers were seriously injured while 30 other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Port-au-Prince

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1959

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Haiti Air Force - Corps d'Aviation Haïti

Registration:

5878

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

16881/34137

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Just after takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a wasteland. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

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