San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde)

As the aircraft was taxiing for takeoff, witnesses noted the left rear baggage door was unlocked and hanging down. A warning was relayed to the pilot via the tower, but by then the aircraft was airborne and the pilot had reported a control problem. During lift-off, the aircraft pitched up sharply and entered an immediate right bank of about 45°. As the gear retracted, the bank angle decreased to about 20°. The aircraft was reported to yaw slightly from side to side and circle to the right while climbing to about 1,000 feet. A witness (in radio contact) asked the pilot about the problem; the pilot replied the controls (ctls) were locked to one side. On advice of others, the pilot tried to control the aircraft with engine power adjustments, but the aircraft lost altitude to about 200 feet agl. Subsequently, while maneuvering, it struck a tree, then hit a utility pole and crashed. During impact the lower fuselage, which housed the flight control linkages, was badly damaged. No preimpact mechanical problem was verified concerning the flight controls, autopilot or trim. A pilot, who had previously flown the aircraft with the baggage door open, said he experienced no adverse control problems. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft's climb performance began to deteriorate and the right engine started to overheat. Subsequently, the right engine was feathered and the crew attempted to return to the airport. The radio transmitter became unintelligible, so the tower personnel cleared the aircraft to land on runway 10 and asked the crew to key their mike twice, if they understood. The mike waskeyed twice. The aircraft entered a right downwind for runway 10 at a very low altitude. According to witnesses, the aircraft went into a steep bank as it was turning onto a base leg over water, the right wing tip hit the water and the aircraft cartwheeled and crashed. The copilot reported that after feathering the right engine, the vmc of 84 kts was maintained; however, he believed the aircraft stalled just prior to impact. A teardown of the right engine revealed the edge of the #8 piston and its piston rings had failed. Metal filings were found in the oil and the oil pump was scored. There was evidence of oil starvation to the crankshaft journal, as well as piston slap associated with the ring failure.

The aircraft crash landed during a touch and go landing. The pilot said that the aircraft was caught in a windshear or violent downdraft and would not climb. He did not say why he was doing a touch and go landing with 9 passengers on board. The pilots account of the accident was: after touchdown I raised the flaps and set takeoff power. At 103 knots and with 500 feet of runway remaining the aircraft was lifted off. At about 150 feet agl and climbing I started to raise landing gear but the aircraft started to sink so I left gear down. The trees were moving violently. I felt I was caught in a windshear because of a sharp drop in airspeed and the aircraft quit performing. The aircraft continued sinking and I decided on a controlled crash to save the passengers. A witness stated he (the pilot) took off without enough power. I saw the plane with its nose high and tail low and I lost the plane when it went into the trees. The aircraft hit several citrus trees at a shallow angle of descent 1,200 feet from the end of the runway. The aircraft went 150 feet through the trees and 350 feet on the ground before stopping. All 11 occupants escaped uninjured.

At liftoff at San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín Airport runway 10, the twin engine airplane banked left then crashed. All five occupants were injured, the pilot seriously.

On approach to San Juan-Isla Verde Airport, the right main landing failed to extend. The captain decided to complete two touch-and-go but the right main gear remained blocked in its wheel well. The decision to complete a belly landing was taken. After landing on runway 10, the airplane slid for few dozen meters before coming to rest. All three occupants escaped the scene and were not recovered. It was later reported that parts of the right main gear and the outboard five feet from the right horizontal stabilizer were missing.

On final approach to San Juan-Isla Verde Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed onto several houses located in the district of Barrio Obrero, about 4 km short of runway 10 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed. Few people on the ground were injured.

On approach to San Juan-Isla Verde Airport, the crew recycled the landing gear but the right main gear remained retracted. The crew was contacted by the tower controller but the captain decided to continue the approach. The airplane partially slid on its belly for about 4,300 feet then veered off runway to the right and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All three occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While on a taxiway at San Juan-Isla Verde Airport for takeoff, the airplane collided with a ground vehicle and came to rest. The pilot and the driver were uninjured while the aircraft and the vehicle were damaged beyond repair.

The four engine airplane was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Miami to Managua with an intermediate stop in San Juan, carrying three crew members, two passengers (among them the famous American Baseball player Roberto Clemente aged 38) and various goods for the victims of the recent earthquake in Nicaragua. The crew was cleared to takeoff from runway 08 at 1920LT. After rotation, the crew was instructed to turn to left according to departure procedures. Three minutes after takeoff, while in initial climb by night, the airplane suffered various technical problems, lost height, stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred meters offshore. Some debris were found floating on water and all five occupants were killed.

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.