All US Virgin Islands

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

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

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie - San Juan

MSN:

BA-173

YOM:

1956

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14563

Captain / Total hours on type:

2400.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from runway 10 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, while in initial climb, the right engine failed. The pilot elected to maintain control when the airplane stalled and crashed onto the Island Beachcomber Hotel located along the runway. The aircraft was destroyed and all 8 occupants were killed. Fortunately, there were no victims on the ground.

Probable cause:

Engine malfunction during initial climb and loss of control. The following factors were reported:
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Powerplant failure, engine structure, piston and piston rings,
- The pilot-in-command failed to follow the approved procedures,
- Powerplant - lubricating system, filters, screen,
- The right engine piston tops were eroded, pieces of rings were missing,
- The right propeller could not be feathered,
- The landing gear were still down at impact.

Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing 727-2A7 in Charlotte Amalie: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1970 at 1442 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 727-200

Operator:

Registration:

N8790R

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

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

Schedule:

New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie

MSN:

20240/717

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

TBB505

Location:

Country:

Region:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10666

Captain / Total hours on type:

169.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

21016

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1126

Circumstances:

Upon touchdown on runway 09 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the airplane bounced twice and eventually landed firmly after a course of 2,700 feet (runway 09 is 4,650 feet long). At this time, the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane overran, went through a fence and a road before coming to rest in flames against a hill. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and two passengers were killed.

Probable cause:

The captain's use of improper techniques in recovering from a high bounce generated by a poorly executed approach and touchdown. Lack of cockpit crew coordination during the approach and attempted recovery contributed to the accident.

Final Report:

Crash of a Stewart-Davis PBY-5A Super Catalina in Christiansted

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1970 at 0803 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5584V

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen (ex Alexander Hamilton)

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – Christiansted

MSN:

1846

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching the seaplane base of Christiansted, the crew suspected technical problems with the undercarriage and decided to divert to Christiansted-Alexander Hamilton Airport. Upon touchdown, the left main gear collapsed and the seaplane came to rest. While both pilots were uninjured, the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left main gear upon landing due to the failure of the upper end hydraulic actuator. The following factors were reported:
- Landing gear failure,
- Fatigue fracture,
- Corrosion,
- Improper maintenance of the aircraft on part of the maintenance personnel,
- Precautionary landing on airport following a suspected mechanical discrepancy,
- Gear overdue 1,700 hours overhaul by 801 hours.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-9-33CF off Charlotte Amalie: 23 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1970 at 1549 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-9

Operator:

Registration:

N935F

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

New York - Saint Marteen

MSN:

47407/457

YOM:

1969

Flight number:

LM980

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12000

Captain / Total hours on type:

1700.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3500

Copilot / Total hours on type:

600

Aircraft flight hours:

2505

Circumstances:

ALM flight 980, from New York-JFK International Airport to Juliana Airport, St.Maarten, was being operated under terms of a lease agreement, utilizing an ONA aircraft and flight crew, and an ALM cabin crew. ALM 980 established radio contact with Juliana Tower and received clearance for an Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) approach to runway 09. The weather was reported as scattered clouds at 800 feet, estimated ceiling 1,000 feet broken, 5,000 feet overcast, and visibility 2 to 3 miles. The crew sighted the runway too late to land successfully on this approach, and attempted two left turn, visual circling approaches. The first circling approach was abandoned because of poor alignment with the runway again and on the second one the captain was unable to maintain the proper descent profile without reducing power and increasing the sink rate beyond acceptable limits. The captain executed a missed approach, made a low altitude return to the St. Maarten Radio Beacon, and was given clearance to St. Thomas at an assigned altitude of 4,000 feet. The fuel gauges were reported to have been acting erratically during the climb, but momentarily stabilized at 850 pounds of fuel remaining. A higher altitude was requested and a course adjustment was made for St. Croix, which was closer. Although the captain doubted the accuracy of the fuel gauge reading, he decided to descend in order to establish visual contact with the water. He also advised the purser that they were low on fuel, and to prepare the cabin for ditching. The purser made this announcement, and no other warning was given to the passengers prior to impact. The ditching site was confirmed on radar with the assistance of a PanAm flight that diverted for that purpose. Other fixed-wing aircraft orbited the area until the US Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps helicopters began picking up survivors. Weather in the area during the rescue operation was estimated to be 400 to 500 feet overcast and visibility as low as three-eighths of a mile in rain. The aircraft sank in water more than 5,000 feet deep, and was not recovered.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion which resulted from continued, unsuccessful attempts to land at St. Maarten until insufficient fuel remained to reach an alternate airport. A contributing factor was the reduced visibility in the approach zone because of rain showers, a condition not reported to the flight. The Board also finds that the probability of survival would have been increased substantially in this accident if there had been better crew coordination prior to and during the ditching.

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:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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

Site:

City

Schedule:

Charlotte Amalie – San Juan

MSN:

BA-284

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Rockwell Aero Commander 560

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 Rockwell Aero Commander 560E in Kingshill: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1967 at 1140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Virgin Islands Airways - VIA

Registration:

N8448C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen (ex Alexander Hamilton)

Schedule:

Christiansted - Christiansted

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

10850

Captain / Total hours on type:

500.00

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at Christiansted-Alexander Hamilton Airport. While approaching from the north, the airplane stalled and crashed in Kinsghill, about 2 miles north of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control while practicing single engine approach. The crew failed to maintain flying speed and inadequate flight supervision.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft C18 in Charlotte Amalie: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1965 at 1926 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C18S

Operator:

West Indies Airways

Registration:

N8063H

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

8540

YOM:

1945

Location:

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

Country:

Region:

Virgin Islands Airways - VIA

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2000

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft disappeared and crashed in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the three occupants was found. It is believed the airplane may have crashed into the sea.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidence, the cause of the accident could not be determined.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2A off Charlotte Amalie: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1965 at 1705 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

N6503D

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

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

MSN:

04377

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

9035

Captain / Total hours on type:

370.00

Circumstances:

At liftoff at Charlotte Amalie Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, stalled and crashed into the sea. The pilot and seven passengers were killed while four passengers were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind component and failed to abort the takeoff procedure. Unfavorable wind conditions (gusting to 25 knots) and an improperly loaded aircraft (CofG) were considered as contributing factors.

Final Report:

Crash of a North American B-25J-35-NC Mitchell in Charlotte Amalie: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

45-8889

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

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

MSN:

108-47740

Location:

Country:

Region: