New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
Flight / Schedule
New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
Aircraft
Boeing 727-200Registration
N8790R
MSN
20240/717
Year of Manufacture
1969
Operator
Trans Caribbean Airways - TCADate
December 28, 1970 at 02:42 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman) All US Virgin Islands
Region
Central America • US Virgin Islands
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On December 28, 1970 at 02:42 PM, New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie experienced a crash involving Boeing 727-200, operated by Trans Caribbean Airways - TCA, with the event recorded near Charlotte Amalie-Cyril E. King (ex Harry S. Truman) All US Virgin Islands.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
55 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 53 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 3.6%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 48, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. Upon touchdown on runway 09 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the airplane bounced twice and eventually landed firmly after a course of 2,700 feet (runway 09 is 4,650 feet long). At this time, the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane overran, went through a fence and a road before coming to rest in flames against a hill. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and two passengers were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration N8790R, MSN 20240/717, year of manufacture 1969.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
0
Passengers
2
Other
0
Crash Summary
Upon touchdown on runway 09 at Charlotte Amalie-Harry S. Truman Airport, the airplane bounced twice and eventually landed firmly after a course of 2,700 feet (runway 09 is 4,650 feet long). At this time, the right wing struck the runway surface. Out of control, the airplane overran, went through a fence and a road before coming to rest in flames against a hill. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and two passengers were killed.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
48
Estimated Survivors
53
Fatality Rate
3.6%
Known people on board: 55
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
New York – San Juan – Charlotte Amalie
Operator
Trans Caribbean Airways - TCAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • US Virgin Islands
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
United States Air Force - USAF
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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.
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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.
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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.
Virgin Islands Airways - VIA
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Conquest Airways
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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.
ALM Antillean Airlines - Antillaanse Luchtvaart Maatschappij
Douglas DC-9
ALM flight 980, from New York-JFK International Airport to Juliana Airport, St.Maarten, was being operated under terms of a lease agreement, utilizing an ONA aircraft and flight crew, and an ALM cabin crew. ALM 980 established radio contact with Juliana Tower and received clearance for an Automatic Direction Finding (ADF) approach to runway 09. The weather was reported as scattered clouds at 800 feet, estimated ceiling 1,000 feet broken, 5,000 feet overcast, and visibility 2 to 3 miles. The crew sighted the runway too late to land successfully on this approach, and attempted two left turn, visual circling approaches. The first circling approach was abandoned because of poor alignment with the runway again and on the second one the captain was unable to maintain the proper descent profile without reducing power and increasing the sink rate beyond acceptable limits. The captain executed a missed approach, made a low altitude return to the St. Maarten Radio Beacon, and was given clearance to St. Thomas at an assigned altitude of 4,000 feet. The fuel gauges were reported to have been acting erratically during the climb, but momentarily stabilized at 850 pounds of fuel remaining. A higher altitude was requested and a course adjustment was made for St. Croix, which was closer. Although the captain doubted the accuracy of the fuel gauge reading, he decided to descend in order to establish visual contact with the water. He also advised the purser that they were low on fuel, and to prepare the cabin for ditching. The purser made this announcement, and no other warning was given to the passengers prior to impact. The ditching site was confirmed on radar with the assistance of a PanAm flight that diverted for that purpose. Other fixed-wing aircraft orbited the area until the US Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps helicopters began picking up survivors. Weather in the area during the rescue operation was estimated to be 400 to 500 feet overcast and visibility as low as three-eighths of a mile in rain. The aircraft sank in water more than 5,000 feet deep, and was not recovered.
