Bahamas

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Cockburn Town (San Salvador Island)

Schedule:

Miami - Cockburn Town

MSN:

4388

YOM:

1942

Location:

San Salvador

Country:

Bahamas

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6900

Captain / Total hours on type:

700.00

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight, the crew started the descent to Cockburn Town Airport, San Salvador Island. After touchdown on runway 28, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and plunged into the sea. All 23 occupants were evacuated and the copilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The selected the wrong runway relative to existing wind. The pilot-in-command misjudged distance and speed. The following factors were reported:
- Wet runway,
- Downwind,
- The crew did not see the lighted wind sock and landed downwind.

Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Grand Commander 680E off The Bahamas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1972 at 1812 LT

Type of aircraft:

Rockwell Grand Commander 680

Operator:

Registration:

N4900

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Trans Island Airways - Bahamas

Schedule:

Bimini - Nassau

MSN:

680-710-22

YOM:

1959

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

5709

Captain / Total hours on type:

73.00

Circumstances:

On a flight from Bimini to Nassau, while cruising in very bad weather conditions, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea. The wreckage and both dead bodies were found 13 days later few km offshore. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with thunderstorm activity and turbulences.

Probable cause:

Uncontrolled descent and crash in water after the pilot-in-command continued under VFR mode into adverse weather conditions. The following factors were reported:
- Spatial disorientation,
- Turbulences associated with clouds and thunderstorm activity,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Thunderstorm activity and rain falls,
- Zero visibility.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Riley Dove in Rock Sound

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1972

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.104 Dove

Operator:

Registration:

N50S

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Cessna 207 Skywagon/Stationair

MSN:

04461

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing at Rock Sound Airport, the twin engine aircraft came to rest in flames. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Cessna 207 Skywagon in Cockburn Town: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1972 at 1640 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N1607U

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Cockburn Town (San Salvador Island)

Schedule:

Cockburn Town – Stella Maris

MSN:

207-0207

YOM:

1971

Location:

San Salvador

Country:

Bahamas

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1528

Captain / Total hours on type:

159.00

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Cockburn Town Airfield (San Salvador Island), the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. The pilot and a passenger were killed while four other occupants were seriously injured. The airplane was enroute to Stella Maris, Long Island, Bahamas.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft B90 King Air off Freeport

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1971 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft 90 King Air

Operator:

Universal Aviation Company

Registration:

N480K

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation

Schedule:

Little Whale Cay - Freeport

MSN:

LJ-439

YOM:

1969

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12300

Captain / Total hours on type:

200.00

Circumstances:

While approaching Freeport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot was able to inform ATC about his position and ditched the aircraft 29 km south of Freeport. The pilot was quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engines in flight due to fuel exhaustion. The following factors were reported:
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Miscalculated fuel consumption,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Failure of both engines,
- Pilot stated fuel totalizer showed 387 lbs while fuel gauges showed zero.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation off Great Inagua Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1971 at 2205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Balair - USA

Registration:

N564E

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Santo Domingo - Miami

MSN:

4834

YOM:

1958

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

14000

Captain / Total hours on type:

5000.00

Circumstances:

While cruising by night on a cargo flight from Santo Domingo to Miami, the four engine airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Great Inagua Island. The airplane exploded while contacting water and was totally destroyed. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that a fire broke out in the cargo compartment was not ruled out.

Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in Freeport

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1970 at 1011 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

N44CA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

West Palm Beach – Freeport – Great Harbor Key

MSN:

A-143

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2100

Captain / Total hours on type:

450.00

Circumstances:

Upon landing at Freeport Airport, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Suspected mechanical discrepancy.

Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Nassau: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1969 at 1250 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Islands of the Bahamas

Registration:

N3914

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

22445

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Nassau Airport, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 3 km offshore. Few debris were found floating on water and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Fire or explosion in flight for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar in Freeport

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1968 at 0941 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

N60G

Flight Phase:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: