Crash of a Canadair CL-601 Challenger off Aruba: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 2015
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N214FW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3008
YOM:
1983
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left an airfield located somewhere in the State of Apure, Venezuela, apparently bound for the US with three people on board. While flying north of Punto Fijo, above the sea, the crew was contacted by ATC but failed to respond. Convinced this was an illegal flight, the Venezuelan Authorities decided to send a fighter to intercept the Challenger that was shot down. Out of control, it dove into the Caribbean Sea and crashed off the coast of Aruba Island. All three occupants were killed and on site, more than 400 boxes containing cocaine were found.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Venezuelan Air Force fighter.

Crash of a Beechcraft C90GTi King Air off Oranjestad

Date & Time: Apr 3, 2012 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N8116L
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wichita - Fort Lauderdale - Willemstad - Belo Horizonte
MSN:
LJ-2042
YOM:
2011
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11700
Captain / Total hours on type:
2600.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3649
Copilot / Total hours on type:
33
Aircraft flight hours:
14
Circumstances:
On April 3, 2012, about 0920 atlantic standard time (ast), a Hawker Beechcraft C90GTx, N8116L, operated by Lider Taxi Aereo, was substantially damaged after ditching in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, 17 miles north of Aruba, following a dual loss of engine power during cruise. The flight departed Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was destined for Hato International Airport (TNCC), Willemstad, Curacao. The airline transport pilot and the pilot rated passenger were uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan was filed for the delivery flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The Amsterdam arrived at the ditching location at 1120. The airplane was partially submerged. The crew of the Amsterdam attempted to prevent the airplane from sinking by placing a cable around it and hoisting it onboard. However during the attempted recovery, the fuselage broke in half and the airplane sank.
Probable cause:
Review of the fuel ticket revealed that the misspelled words; "Top Neclles" was handwritten on it. It was also signed by the pilot. Further review revealed that only 25 gallons had been uploaded to the airplane, and this number had been entered in the box labeled "TOTAL GALLONS DELIVERED". Review of the start reading and end reading from the truck meter also concurred with this amount. Furthermore, It was discovered that the "134 gallons" that the pilot believed had been uploaded to the airplane was in fact the employee number of the fueler that had topped off the nacelle tanks and had entered his employee number on the "FUEL DEL BY:" line. Utilizing the information contained on the fuel ticket, it was determined that the airplane had departed with only 261 gallons of fuel on-board. Review of performance data in the POH/AFM revealed that in order to complete the flight the airplane would have needed to depart with 328 gallons on-board.
Final Report:

Crash of a Dassault Falcon 20C in Oranjestad

Date & Time: Feb 13, 2005
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PR-SUL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Porlamar - Oranjestad
MSN:
129
YOM:
1968
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful positioning flight from Porlamar, the aircraft landed at Oranjestad-Reina Beatrix Airport with its undercarriage retracted. The aircraft slid on ity belly for few dozen metres before coming to rest. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 Marquise in Kralendijk

Date & Time: Nov 2, 2003 at 2331 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N630HA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oranjestad – Kralendijk
MSN:
630
YOM:
1974
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On November 2, 2003, about 2331 Atlantic standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N630HA, registered to Hezemans Air, Inc., collided with terrain short of the runway at Flamingo Airport, Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, while on a CFR Part 91 positioning flight from Aruba to Bonaire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage and the airline transport-rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from Aruba, the same day about 2250. The pilot stated that when on a 1- mile final approach for landing both engines lost power. The airplane descended and collided with terrain about 300 meters from the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane by Civil Aviation Authorities showed the airplane did not contain any usable fuel and there was no evidence of fuel leakage from the airplane prior to the accident or after the accident.

Crash of a Cessna 402B off Punto Fijo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1996 at 0815 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P4-AVB
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oranjestad - Punto Fijo
MSN:
402B-1201
YOM:
1976
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was completing a charter flight from Oranjestad to Punto Fijo with seven passengers and one pilot on board. While descending to Punto Fijo-Josefa Camejo Airport, the pilot informed ATC about the failure of the left engine. Shortly later, the left engine caught fire and detached, causing a part of the left wing to be torn off. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in the sea about 29,5 km north of Punto Fijo Airport. All eight occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine as a result of a cracked exhaust manifold.

Crash of a Lockheed L-188CF Electra in Oranjestad

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1990 at 1627 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N4465F
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oranjestad – Panama City
MSN:
1096
YOM:
1959
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
6060
Captain / Total hours on type:
3150.00
Aircraft flight hours:
31829
Circumstances:
While in climb at 18,000 feet the crew heard and explosion and lost n°3 and 4 engines. They visually noted that the propellers and portions of the gearboxes were also missing. They then shut down no 2 engine due to erratic indications. They declared an emergency and landed. The gear boxes and propellers were not recovered from the caribbean sea.
Probable cause:
The inflight loss of the n°3 and 4 propellers and gearboxes for undetermined reasons. The failed components were not recovered from the Caribbean Sea.
Final Report:

Crash of a Beechcraft 65-88 Queen Air in the Caribbean Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1988 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N884G
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oranjestad - Santo Domingo
MSN:
LP-23
YOM:
1966
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
460
Circumstances:
The Beech 65-88 airplane was reported missing on February 7, 1988. It was on an IFR flight from Aruba to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The airplane departed from Aruba approximately 1223Z. According to air traffic authorities in Santo Domingo, the airplanes last reported position was over the DUSAN intersection at 1340Z. The airplane has not been located, and remains missing. No additional information is available.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, the cause of the accident could not be determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a Rockwell Turbo Commander 690A in Winter Haven: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1983 at 1445 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N81416
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Winter Haven - Oranjestad
MSN:
690-11306
YOM:
1976
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
11450
Aircraft flight hours:
3400
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed into a ditch off the departure end of the runway and burst into flames during takeoff. Witnesses said the aircraft did not sound like it was developing normal rpm for takeoff. One mechanic said the engines sounded like they were still in ground idle position. The surviving passenger said they didn't get enough speed to takeoff but he did not suspect any engine problems. Another ground witness said it sounded like the propellers were in very high or cruise pitch. After the accident both propellers were at or near the feather position. Toxicology studies on the pilot showed his blood alcohol level was 2,2‰. He also had cirrhosis of the liver. A passenger was seriously injured while the pilot and a second passenger were killed.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: overrun
Phase of operation: takeoff - roll/run
Findings
1. (c) powerplant controls - improper use of - pilot in command
2. (c) aborted takeoff - not performed - pilot in command
3. (c) impairment(alcohol) - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: on ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Phase of operation: takeoff - roll/run
Findings
4. Terrain condition – ditch
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in New Smyrna Beach

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1980 at 1647 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N45864
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New Smyrna Beach – Oranjestad
MSN:
9304
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
3500
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at New Smyrna Beach Airport, en route to Oranjestad, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that veered off runway, collided with trees and burst into flames. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Ground loop during takeoff run after the pilot failed to maintain directional control. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot failed to abort takeoff,
- Physical impairment,
- Alcoholic impairment of efficiency and judgment,
- Unqualified person operated aircraft,
- Pilot's blood level 1,5‰ ,
- Pilot did not have a type certificate and attempted flight without copilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando off Oranjestad: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HK-1282
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oranjestad - Barranquilla
MSN:
33345
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Oranjestad-Reina Beatrix Airport, while climbing, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor both crew members was found.