Crash of a Cessna 402B off The Bahamas

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1992 at 1115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N402PB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Treasure Cay - Fort Lauderdale
MSN:
402B-0245
YOM:
1972
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6574
Captain / Total hours on type:
231.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9097
Circumstances:
During cruise flight, the pilot reported that the right engine cowling partially separated and the left forward cylinder of that engine separated, followed by an engine compartment fire. He attempted to feather the propeller but was unable. He initiated a descent to extinguish the fire and was successful but after leveling off, was unable to maintain directional control. He ditched the airplane and both he and the passenger exited the aircraft. The pilot dragged the seriously injured passenger with him to a nearby island where they were rescued the following day. The aircraft was not recovered; therefore, no determination could be made as to the reason for the separation of the cylinder. Review of the aircraft logbook indicates that on 8/27/91, the n°5 cylinder of the right engine was removed and replaced. Also, the n°1 cylinder was removed and reinstalled following repair. There were no further entries in the aircraft logbook regarding cylinder removal or replacement to the right engine.
Probable cause:
For undetermined reason(s), the right engine failed and the right propeller would not feather.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 off The Bahamas

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4926T
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
411-0126
YOM:
1965
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
776
Circumstances:
En route from Palm Beach to the Turks & Caicos Islands, the pilot encountered technical problems and was forced to ditch the aircraft off The Bahamas. The pilot, sole on board, was rescued while the aircraft sank and was not recovered.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the exacts cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft E18 off The Bahamas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1979
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4442
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Lauderdale - Cat Island
MSN:
BA-8
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2000
Captain / Total hours on type:
17.00
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude on a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Cat Island, the twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off The Bahamas Islands. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences as the wreckage was not found, it was not possible to determine a probable cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65 Queen Air off The Bahamas: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N809Q
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
LC-30
YOM:
1960
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Port-au-Prince on a flight to The Bahamas but failed to arrive as it crashed under unknown circumstances into the sea off The Bahamas. No trace of the aircraft nor both occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor off The Bahamas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8103Q
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Freeport - Treasure Cay
MSN:
414-0003
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
2100
Circumstances:
While in cruising altitude from Freeport to Treasure Cay, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the airplane nor the pilot was found. The pilot reported above clouds while approaching the destination airport.
Probable cause:
As the aircraft was not recovered, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1972 at 1812 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N4900
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bimini - Nassau
MSN:
680-710-22
YOM:
1959
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
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 North American B-25 Mitchell off The Bahamas: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1966
Operator:
Registration:
N92877
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Miami – Bimini – Matthew Town – Oranjestad
MSN:
82-5228
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cargo flight from Miami to Oranjestad (Aruba) with intermediate stops in Bimini and Matthew Town (Great Inagua Island), carrying two pilots and a load of frozen chickens, eggs and plane parts. Few minutes after takeoff from Bimini Airport, while in cruising altitude, the crew informed ATC about his position vertical to Andros Island when contact was lost shortly later. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, investigations were unable to determine the cause of the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL off The Bahamas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100679
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Morrison AFB - Borinquen
MSN:
19142
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way from Morrison AFB (West Palm Beach, Florida) to Borinquen, Porto Rico, as the aircraft should be delivered in Algiers, Algeria. En route, while cruising off The Bahamas Islands, pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft for unknown reason. A crew member was killed while all four others were rescued.