Oranjestad-Queen Beatrix (ex Dakota Field)

Following an uneventful positioning flight from Porlamar, the aircraft landed at Oranjestad-Queen Beatrix Airport with its undercarriage retracted. It slid on its belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

On November 2, 2003, about 2331 Atlantic standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N630HA, registered to Hezemans Air, Inc., collided with terrain short of the runway at Flamingo Airport, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, while on a CFR Part 91 positioning flight from Aruba to Bonaire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from Aruba, the same day about 2250. The pilot stated that when on a 1- mile final approach for landing both engines lost power. The airplane descended and collided with terrain about 300 meters from the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by Civil Aviation Authorities showed the airplane did not contain any usable fuel and there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane prior to the accident or after the accident.

While cruising at an altitude of 18,000 feet on a flight from Oranjestad to Panama City, the crew heard and explosion and lost n°3 and 4 engines. They visually noted that the propellers and portions of the gearboxes were also missing. Then they shut down n°2 engine due to erratic indications, declared an emergency and successfully ditched the airplane off Aruba Island. All three crew members were rescued while the airplane was lost in the Caribbean Sea.

Few minutes after takeoff from Oranjestad-Queen Beatrix Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor both crew members was found.

Shortly after a morning takeoff from Oranjestad-Princess Beatrix Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to gain height. It struck a kiwi tree then crashed near houses. Two crew members were injured while two others were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
Crew:
Lt E. Ijpma, †
G. Folkerts, †
Lt J. J. Mantel, †
K. Kuik.

Damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Dakota Field. There were no fatalities.