Crash of a Douglas DC-4 in Cockburn Harbour

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1985
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-4
Operator:
BIF Air
Registration:
N88939
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18397
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cockburn Harbour
All Turks and Caicos Islands
Country:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Cockburn Harbour Airport runway 29, the four engine struck the ground and crashed, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6B off Port-au-Prince: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1980 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
JMG
Registration:
N9018N
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cockburn Harbour - Port-au-Prince
MSN:
44425/476
YOM:
1954
Location:
Port-au-Prince
West
Country:
Haiti
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
34000
Captain / Total hours on type:
10000.00
Circumstances:
While approaching Port-au-Prince on a flight from Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos, the crew reported an engine failure. Few minutes later, all communications systems failed. The airplane descended and eventually crashed into the sea few km off shore. Rescuers were dispatched on scene and one pilot was found alive while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew was forced to shut down one engine due to oil exhaustion. Later, two other engines should be shut down as well for the same reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Oil exhaustion, engine lubrication system,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Communications and navigation equipment: transmitters and/or receivers failure,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- High oil consumption,
- No oil,
- One engine shut down en route, diverted when two more engines shut down.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-21 Islander off Turks and Caicos Islands: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1978
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
HH-CNB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cockburn Harbour - Cockburn Town
MSN:
442
YOM:
1975
Location:
Turks and Caicos Islands
All Turks and Caicos Islands
Country:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route from Cockburn Harbour to Cockburn Town, the copilot declared an emergency after an engine failed in flight. The airplane lost height and crashed into the sea off Turks and Caicos Islands. All 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-A90 King Air off Charleston

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1977 at 1705 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 90 King Air
Operator:
D & H Corporation
Registration:
N55MG
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cockburn Harbour - Wilmington
MSN:
LJ-303
YOM:
1967
Location:
Charleston-Intl
South Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6630
Captain / Total hours on type:
175.00
Circumstances:
En route from South Caicos to Wilmington, the pilot encountered technical problems with both engines that failed in flight. He reduced his altitude and ditched the airplane into the sea off Charleston, South Carolina. Both occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in normal cruise due to inadequate preflight preparation on part of the pilot. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion,
- Miscalculated fuel consumption,
- Failure of both engines,
- Aircraft came to rest in water,
- Forced landing off airport on water.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1971 at 1740 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
International Sky Cab Airlines
Registration:
N857JA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan - Cockburn Harbour
MSN:
92
YOM:
1969
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Captain / Total hours on type:
300.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed San Juan-Isla Grande Airport with deficiencies with the radio navigation equipment. En route, he lost his orientation and became lost. He ditched the plane in the Atlantic Ocean and was quickly rescued by the crew of a ship. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
The pilot attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment. The following factors were reported:
- Improper in-flight decisions or planning,
- Pilot knew that the radio navigation equipment was malfunctioning.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster off Cockburn Harbour

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
HP-382
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
10387
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cockburn Harbour
All Turks and Caicos Islands
Country:
Turks and Caicos Islands
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a cargo flight, the crew encountered engine problems and decided to ditch the aircraft 15 km south of Cockburn Harbour, Turks and Caicos Islands. Both crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.
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