San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Two minutes after takeoff from runway 16 at Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, while in initial climb, the pilot informed ATC that the right engine failed and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Shortly later, the left engine failed as well. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Caribbean Sea about three km offshore. Few debris were floating on water and others sank by a depth of 300 meters. All 102 occupants were killed among them the Dominican boxer Carlos Teo Cruz, world lightweight champion as well as a large part of the Puerto Rico's National Women's Volleyball Team.

Probable cause:

Brand new, the aircraft was delivered by Douglas Corp to Dominicana de Aviación last 16 of December 1969. Only few debris were recovered and unfortunately, both CVR & FDR were not found. Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the double engine failure may have been caused by the contamination of fuel by an important quantity of water.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron in the Sierra de Luquillo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1969 at 1738 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.114 Heron

Operator:

Registration:

N563PR

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – San Juan

MSN:

14125

YOM:

1961

Flight number:

PQ277

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

26800

Captain / Total hours on type:

1000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

1524

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1200

Aircraft flight hours:

4167

Circumstances:

Prinair flight PQ277 departed Charlotte Amalie Airport (Saint Thomas Island) at 1715LT for an IFR flight to San Juan. At 17:32, the flight contacted San Juan Approach Control and advised that the flight was maintaining 4,000 feet. The trainee approach controller replied: "Prinair two seven seven San Juan Approach Control radar contact three miles east of Isla Verde fly a heading of two five zero for a vector to ILS final maintain four thousand." Actually the flight was 3 miles east of the Fajardo intersection instead of the Isla Verde intersection which is located about 10 miles west of the Fajardo intersection. One minute later the Heron was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet. At 17:38, after being vectored for a runway 07 approach, the airplane contacted trees and crashed, coming to rest near the top of a knoll in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains at an elevation of about 2400 feet (731 m). The wreckage was found about 24 km southeast of San Juan-Isla Verde Airport and all 18 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The vectoring of the aircraft into mountainous terrain, under IFR conditions, without adequate obstruction clearance altitude by a controller who, for reasons beyond his control, was performing beyond the safe limits of his performance capability and without adequate supervision.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18S in Charlotte Amalie: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1968 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft E18

Operator:

Conquest Airways

Registration:

N433AC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – San Juan

MSN:

BA-284

YOM:

1957

Location:

Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)

All US Virgin Islands

Country:

US Virgin Islands

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5579

Captain / Total hours on type:

399.00

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. After passing over the end of the runway, the airplane struck a house and crashed. The pilot, two passengers as well as four people on the ground were killed. Eight passengers were seriously injured.

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by the combination of the following factors:
- The pilot failed to obtain/maintain flying speed,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- The aircraft computed to be loaded to aircraft CofG limits,
- No W&B prepared by the pilot,
- Possible misuse of flaps.

Final Report:

Crash of a Convair CV-640 in San Juan

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1967 at 0901 LT

Type of aircraft:

Convair CV-640

Operator:

Registration:

N3408

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1952

Flight number:

CRB101

Location:

San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde)

All Puerto Rico

Country:

Puerto Rico

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7084

Captain / Total hours on type:

670.00

Circumstances:

On final approach to San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marin Airport (Island Grande), the airplane struck the ground 250 feet short of runway threshold. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off and the airplane came to rest. All 28 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command misjudged distance, speed and altitude on final approach. Last 15 seconds of flight, the crew adopted a rate of descent of 1,600 feet per minute.

Final Report: