Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560 off Nassau: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Phoenix Aviation - USA
Registration:
N343P
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
560-772
YOM:
1959
Location:
Nassau
New Providence
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Nassau Airport, while on a flight from Florida, the twin engine airplane lost height and crashed in flames in the Nassau harbor. The aircraft was destroyed as well as several boats. All five occupants were killed. There were no other injuries.
Probable cause:
Uncontrolled collision with water during a low pass.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Aero Commander 560F in Saint-Barthélemy

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Rockwell Aero Commander 560
Operator:
Registration:
YV-110P
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
560-1246-54
YOM:
1963
Location:
Saint-Barthélemy-Rémy de Haenen (Saint-Jean-Gustave III)
Saint-Barthélemy
Country:
Saint-Barthélemy
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown on runway 10, the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in water. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3R off Cockburn Town: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Dominican Services
Registration:
N1546A
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
20191
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cockburn Town
All Turks and Caicos Islands
Country:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Cockburn Town Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane caught fire and crashed into the sea. A crew member was killed while two other occupants were injured. The exact source of fire in the cabin remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B in San Juan

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1978 at 0826 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
N6103C
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Miami - San Juan
MSN:
44103/392
YOM:
1953
Location:
San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
45202
Captain / Total hours on type:
10000.00
Circumstances:
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.
Probable cause:
Wheels-up landing after the crew failed to assure the gear was down and locked. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Landing gear: normal retraction/extension assembly.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B near Brus Laguna

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Skyways International
Registration:
N6523C
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
43523/230
YOM:
1952
Location:
Brus Laguna
Gracias a Dios
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While conducting a cargo flight, the crew encountered technical problems and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in the Brus lagoon located near Brus Laguna Airfield. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King in Santa María Amajac: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1978 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
Registration:
XA-FOT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
LJ-168
YOM:
1966
Location:
Santa María Amajac
Hidalgo
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all four occupants.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air in Tortola

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Transcommuter Airlines
Registration:
N40SB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
LC-48
YOM:
1960
Location:
Tortola-Terrance B. Lettsome
All British Virgin Islands
Country:
British Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Tortola Airport for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-201D off Río Grande

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1978 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Aero Virgin Islands
Registration:
N15598
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - San Juan
MSN:
2258
YOM:
1940
Location:
Río Grande
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3107
Captain / Total hours on type:
965.00
Circumstances:
En route from Charlotte Amalie to San Juan, while flying along the east coast of Puerto Rico, the left engine failed. The crew was attempting to feather the propeller when the right engine lost power. The captain reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane about 1,000 feet of the Río Grande district. All five occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and malfunction during normal cruise due to mismanagement of fuel. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inattentive to fuel supply,
- Fuel starvation,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Inadequate inspection of aircraft,
- Failed to use the checklist,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Complete engine failure,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Both fuel selectors on the right main tank that was empty,
- Fuel available in the left main tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo off Willemstad: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Valley Air Service
Registration:
N9164Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - Willemstad
MSN:
31-217
YOM:
1968
Location:
Willemstad-Hato
Dutch Antilles
Country:
Dutch Antilles
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Willemstad-Hato Airport on a schedule flight from Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King Airport, the twin engine airplane nosed down and crashed into the Caribbean Sea few km offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all 10 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Vieques: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1977 at 0748 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
N862JA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Christiansted – Vieques
MSN:
184
YOM:
1970
Location:
Vieques
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
5031
Captain / Total hours on type:
1010.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Vieques on a flight from Christiansted, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea few miles offshore. Five passengers were killed and five other occupants were injured .
Probable cause:
Double engine failure during normal cruise and ditching due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Forced landing off airport on water.
Final Report:
Subscribe to Central America