Crash of a Beechcraft C-45H Expeditor off Loíza: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 11, 1969 at 1210 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
N9957Z
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
MSN:
52-10802
YOM:
1952
Location:
Loíza
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5400
Captain / Total hours on type:
2050.00
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from San Juan, while cruising along the coast, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine and was vectored to the nearest airport. The pilot reduced his altitude but as he realized he could not make it, he decided to ditch the aircraft about 400 meters offshore. The airplane quickly sank and was not recovered. A passenger drowned while 11 other occupants were injured, four of then seriously. Few debris were later found.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure in cruising flight for undetermined reasons. The following factors were reported:
- The aircraft came to rest in water and sank,
- Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot,
- Partial loss of power one engine,
- Left engine failed then the right engine lost power,
- Ditched in heavy sea 900 feet from shore,
- No pre-takeoff emergency briefing.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron in the Sierra de Luquillo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1969 at 1738 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
N563PR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – San Juan
MSN:
14125
YOM:
1961
Flight number:
PQ277
Location:
Sierra de Luquillo
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Captain / Total flying hours:
26800
Captain / Total hours on type:
1000.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1524
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1200
Aircraft flight hours:
4167
Circumstances:
Prinair flight PQ277 departed Charlotte Amalie Airport (Saint Thomas Island) at 1715LT for an IFR flight to San Juan. At 17:32, the flight contacted San Juan Approach Control and advised that the flight was maintaining 4,000 feet. The trainee approach controller replied: "Prinair two seven seven San Juan Approach Control radar contact three miles east of Isla Verde fly a heading of two five zero for a vector to ILS final maintain four thousand." Actually the flight was 3 miles east of the Fajardo intersection instead of the Isla Verde intersection which is located about 10 miles west of the Fajardo intersection. One minute later the Heron was cleared to descend to 3,000 feet. At 17:38, after being vectored for a runway 07 approach, the airplane contacted trees and crashed, coming to rest near the top of a knoll in the Sierra de Luquillo mountains at an elevation of about 2400 feet (731 m). The wreckage was found about 24 km southeast of San Juan-Isla Verde Airport and all 18 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The vectoring of the aircraft into mountainous terrain, under IFR conditions, without adequate obstruction clearance altitude by a controller who, for reasons beyond his control, was performing beyond the safe limits of his performance capability and without adequate supervision.
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:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – San Juan
MSN:
BA-284
YOM:
1957
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
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 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:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8540
YOM:
1945
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
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:
Virgin Islands Airways - VIA
Registration:
N6503D
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
04377
YOM:
1952
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
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:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
45-8889
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
108-47740
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport for unknown reason. Four crew members were injured, three were unhurt and the captain was killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F in Charlotte Amalie

Date & Time: May 4, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Continental Charters
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman)
All US Virgin Islands
Country:
US Virgin Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After about 800 feet into the takeoff roll, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway to the left and eventually collided with a hangar. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is reported that the crew started the takeoff procedure with a 21 mph tailwind.
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