Crash of a Beechcraft 65-B80 Queen Air off Ponce

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1977 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft 80 Queen Air
Operator:
Hollywood Flying Service
Registration:
N99JL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Great Inagua - Christiansted
MSN:
LD-277
YOM:
1966
Location:
Ponce
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10000
Captain / Total hours on type:
20.00
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a pleasure flight from Great Inagua Island to Christiansted, US Virgin Island. While flying along the south coast of Puerto Rico, he contacted ATC and declared an emergency after both engines failed simultaneously. He reduced his altitude then ditched the aircraft about 32 miles southeast of Ponce VOR. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Powerplant failure in flight for undetermined reasons. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Attempted operation with know deficiencies in equipment,
- Improper in-flight decisions,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Failure of two engines,
- Forced landing off airport on water,
- Both fuel flowmeters,
- Left engine alternator inoperative,
- Wet comp 20-30° error.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando off San Juan

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1977 at 1413 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
HI-208
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Juan - Santo Domingo
MSN:
30685
YOM:
1944
Location:
San Juan-Isla Grande (Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
8200
Captain / Total hours on type:
3500.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, while climbing, the right engine failed. The crew could not feather the propeller and control was lost. The airplane lost speed and height and crashed into the sea near the airport. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure during climb to cruise due to inadequate maintenance. The following contributing factors were reported:
- The pilot-in-command attempted operation with known deficiencies in equipment,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Failure of the ignition system: ignition harness, shielding,
- Failure of the hydraulic pitch control mechanism,
- Failed to follow approved procedures,
- Improper emergency procedures,
- Failure of the electrical system: generators/alternators,
- Failure of the electrical system: batteries,
- Prop distributor valve losse,
- Right engine generator inoperative,
- Battery weakened.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 411 off Puerto Rico

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1976 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 411
Operator:
Registration:
N7334U
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Santo Domingo - San Juan
MSN:
411-0034
YOM:
1964
Location:
San Juan-Isla Grande (Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
2118
Captain / Total hours on type:
107.00
Circumstances:
On final approach to San Juan-Isla Grande Airport, the twin engine airplane was too low when it struck the water surface and crashed into the San Juan Bay, few hundred yards short of runway 09. Both occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight with water on approach after the pilot misjudged distance and altitude. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failed to initiate a go-around,
- Rain,
- Visibility two miles or less.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander in San Juan

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1975 at 1141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
N122DW
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Juan - Dorado
MSN:
234
YOM:
1971
Location:
San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
955
Captain / Total hours on type:
105.00
Circumstances:
While on a taxiway at San Juan-Isla Verde Airport for takeoff, the airplane collided with a ground vehicle and came to rest. The pilot and the driver were uninjured while the aircraft and the vehicle were damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Collision with ground vehicle while taxiing for takeoff. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Failure of the driver who crossed the active taxiway,
- Failure of the pilot to see and avoid objects or obstructions,
- Rain.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando off Aguadilla

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1975 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
N4873V
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Saint Petersburg - Aguadilla
MSN:
22415
YOM:
1945
Location:
Aguadilla-Rafael Hernández
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
22000
Captain / Total hours on type:
11100.00
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a cargo flight from St Petersburg to Aguadilla, carrying two pilots and a load of 9,000 lbs of dynamite. While approaching Aguadilla, both engines lost power and stopped almost simultaneously. The crew elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea about 800 meters offshore. The airplane sank by 50 feet of water and its wreckage was not recovered. Both pilots, slightly injured, were evacuated.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. The following contributing factors were reported:
- Inadequate preflight preparation,
- Improper in-flight decisions por planning,
- Mismanagement of fuel,
- Fuel exhaustion.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-7CF off San Juan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1972 at 1923 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-7
Operator:
American Express Leasing
Registration:
N500AE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Humanitarian
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Miami - San Juan - Managua
MSN:
45130
YOM:
1957
Location:
San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
12400
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was engaged in a humanitarian flight from Miami to Managua with an intermediate stop in San Juan, carrying three crew members, two passengers (among them the famous American Baseball player Roberto Clemente aged 38) and various goods for the victims of the recent earthquake in Nicaragua. The crew was cleared to takeoff from runway 08 at 1920LT. After rotation, the crew was instructed to turn to left according to departure procedures. Three minutes after takeoff, while in initial climb by night, the airplane suffered various technical problems, lost height, stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred meters offshore. Some debris were found floating on water and all five occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control was caused by the failure of the engine n°2 and a loss of power on engine n°3. The failure of the engine n°2 was caused by engine structure problems with master and connecting rods, cylinder assembly and piston rings. Investigations also determined that the aircraft was not properly maintained and inspected in accordance with the rules in force. Also, the flight engineer was not qualified for this type of aircraft. The following factors were reported:
- The aircraft was overloaded by 4,193 pounds (1,902 kg),
- Improperly loaded aircraft,
- Powerplant structure,
- Inadequate maintenance and inspection,
- Deficiency in the company maintenance program, violating services regulation,
- Previous damages.

Crash of a Lockheed P-2H Neptune off Roosevelt Roads NAS

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed P-2 Neptune
Operator:
Registration:
148354
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
726-7242
YOM:
1958
Location:
Roosevelt Roads NAS (Ceiba)
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 Heron 2B in Ponce: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1972 at 2317 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.114 Heron
Operator:
Registration:
N554PR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Juan - Ponce
MSN:
14085
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
PQ191
Location:
Ponce
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
8297
Captain / Total hours on type:
3017.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1434
Copilot / Total hours on type:
102
Aircraft flight hours:
11364
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Ponce-Mercedita Airport, the crew decided to make a go-around when control was lost. The airplane overrotated then crashed 2,200 feet past the runway 29 threshold and 260 feet to the south. Both pilots and three passengers were killed while all other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the loss of directional control during a go-around from a landing attempt. Control was lost when the aircraft was overrotated at too low an airspeed to sustain flight. The crew’s reasons for rejecting the landing are not known.
Final Report:

Crash of a Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander in Culebra

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1971 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Britten-Norman Islander
Operator:
Registration:
N589JA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Vieques – Culebra
MSN:
25
YOM:
1968
Location:
Culebra Island
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1800
Captain / Total hours on type:
475.00
Circumstances:
On approach to Culebra Island Airport, the pilot encountered unfavorable weather conditions and decided to land on runway 13 instead of runway 31. After the twin engine aircraft passed over the last hill, it landed hard and bounced several times. The pilot initiated a go-around manoeuvre when the airplane struck a house and crashed. The pilot and a passenger were seriously injured while six other occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a poor judgment on part of the pilot. The following factors were reported:
- Delayed in initiating go-around,
- Unfavorable wind conditions,
- Evasive maneuver to avoid collision,
- Downdrafts, updrafts,
- Downwind approach.
Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-21A Goose off Culebra Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1971 at 1605 LT
Type of aircraft:
Grumman G-21A Goose
Operator:
Registration:
N703A
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Charlotte Amalie – Fajardo
MSN:
B081
YOM:
1944
Location:
Culebra Island
All Puerto Rico
Country:
Puerto Rico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
5582
Captain / Total hours on type:
3000.00
Circumstances:
While flying along the coast of Culebra Island on a flight from Charlotte Amalie to Fajardo, both engines failed simultaneously. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to ditch the airplane that struck the water surface, crashed few dozen yards offshore and sank rapidly. Nine occupants were injured, five of them seriously while two passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight for undetermined reason.
Final Report:
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