Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Christiansted

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1978 at 0939 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N74676
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Christiansted - Christiansted
MSN:
1172
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8943
Captain / Total hours on type:
443.00
Circumstances:
The seaplane was engaged in a test flight out from Christiansted on behalf of the FAA. While flying off Christiansted, the pilot encountered engine problems and decided to ditch the aircraft few miles offshore. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Ditching following a double engine failure after the pilot attempted operation with known deficiens in equipment. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Attempted operation beyond experience/ability level,
- Failure of both engines,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- 25 rpm flux reported on left engine previous three days of flight,
- 200 rpm during climbout and continued flight.
Final Report:

Crash of a Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain off Charlotte Amalie: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1978 at 1949 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N59912
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Christiansted - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
31-7552034
YOM:
1975
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5342
Captain / Total hours on type:
24.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Charlotte Amalie Airport on a cargo flight from Christiansted, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea few km offshore. SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could to be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Saint Thomas: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1978 at 1021 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7777V
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
B111
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
42005
Captain / Total hours on type:
5233.00
Circumstances:
En route from Christiansted to Charlotte Amalie, while in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off St Thomas Island when the seaplane crashed into the sea. Three passengers and the pilot, Cpt Charles Blair (69), owner of the company, were killed. Seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight due to improper maintenance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Powerplant failure due to engine structure: cylinder assembly,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Inadequate supervision of flight crew,
- Deficiency, company maintained equipment, services, regulation,
- Rules, regulations, standards personnel,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- STC approved flight at 8,750 lbs mass gross weight,
- Test indicate mass gross weight 8,150 lbs.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1978 at 1435 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N323
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - Christiansted
MSN:
1189
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11500
Captain / Total hours on type:
2733.00
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Charlotte Amalie, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft that struck rocks and came to rest by the shore. All 11 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and subsequent uncontrolled collision with water due to inadequate maintenance and inspection. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Fuel system: ram air assembly,
- Material failure,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Poor/inadequate design,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Carburetor airbox hot air to cold air valve linkage retaining bolt failed causing air starvation.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Red Hook: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1978 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8777A
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint John - Christiansted
MSN:
1152
YOM:
1942
Flight number:
415
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
14154
Captain / Total hours on type:
5697.00
Circumstances:
Several minutes after departure from St John on flight 415 to Christiansted, both engines stopped quite simultaneously. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the aircraft. The amphibian landed in heavy sea conditions two miles northeast of Frenchmans Cap, approximately four miles southeast of Red Hook, on the east coast of St Thomas Island. All seven passengers were rescued while both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The double engine failure was the consequence of a crew error after the fuel selector was positioned between both fuel tanks.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1977
Operator:
Registration:
N692A
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7318
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Landed hard at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport for unknown reason. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing 727-95 in Charlotte Amalie: 37 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1976 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1963
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Providence - New York - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
19837/499
YOM:
1967
Flight number:
AA625
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
81
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Captain / Total flying hours:
22225
Captain / Total hours on type:
10000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
8000
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2500
Aircraft flight hours:
21926
Circumstances:
American Airlines Flight 625 was a scheduled flight from Providence Airport (PVD) to St.Thomas (STT) on the U.S Virgin Islands with an intermediate stop in New York (JFK). The Boeing 727 departed New York at 12:00 AST. On approach to St. Thomas, at 15:04, the flight crew cancelled their IFR flight plan and proceeded VFR. The captain elected to use the runway 09 ILS for vertical guidance. The glide slope was intercepted at 1500 feet msl (flaps 15° and at a 160 KIAS airspeed). The flaps were lowered to 25 and later to 30 degrees. The company prescribed 40 degrees was never selected. The speed was still 10 KIAS above Vref when the aircraft passed the threshold at an estimated altitude of 30-40 feet. At 1000 feet down the runway, while initiating the flare, turbulence caused the right wing to drop. The wings were leveled and the aircraft floated a while until touchdown 2200-2300 feet down the runway. The captain decided that the aircraft couldn't be stopped on the remaining runway. He immediately initiated a go-around. Because of the absence of any sensation either of power being applied or of aircraft acceleration, the throttles were closed again. The aircraft, in a 11 degree nose up attitude, ran off the runway and struck a localizer antenna. The right wingtip clipped a hillside just south of the antenna and the aircraft continued, hit an embankment, became airborne and contacted the ground on the opposite side of the perimeter road. The aircraft continued and came to rest 83 feet past the perimeter road, bursting into flames.
Probable cause:
The captain's actions and his judgment in initiating a go-around maneuver with insufficient runway remaining after a long touchdown. The long touchdown is attributed to a deviation from prescribed landing techniques and an encounter with an adverse wind condition, common at the airport. The non-availability of information about the aircraft's go-around performance capabilities may have been a factor in the captain's abortive attempt to go-around a long landing.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Christiansted: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1976 at 1633 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4772C
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie - Christiansted
MSN:
B131
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
13628
Captain / Total hours on type:
3048.00
Circumstances:
En route from Charlotte Amalie to Christiansted, the right engine failed. The pilot feathered the propeller and later attempted an emergency landing when the seaplane crashed into the Caribbean Sea off St Croix Island. The airplane sank and was not recovered. Five passengers were drowned while five other occupants were rescued.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Misused or failed to use flaps,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Rough water,
- Unscheduled feather right propeller undetermined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1975 at 1129 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N118DW
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dorado - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
239
YOM:
1971
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
596.00
Circumstances:
While descending to Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport in good weather conditions, the pilot informed ATC that both engines failed simultaneously. Realizing it would not be possible to reach the airport, the pilot decided to ditch the aircraft few km offshore. The airplane slid on water for few meters before coming to rest. All seven occupants evacuated the cabin and were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost. The wreckage was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure for undetermined reasons. Aircraft not recovered.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander off Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1974 at 1931 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N864JA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Christiansted - Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
175
YOM:
1970
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
3225
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Charlotte Amalie by night while on a cargo flight from Christiansted, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later a no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report: