Vieques – Culebra

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.

Flight / Schedule

Vieques – Culebra

Registration

N589JA

MSN

25

Year of Manufacture

1968

Date

December 21, 1971 at 01:45 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Culebra Island All Puerto Rico

Region

Central America • Puerto Rico

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On December 21, 1971 at 01:45 PM, Vieques – Culebra experienced a crash involving Britten-Norman Islander, operated by Vieques Air Link, with the event recorded near Culebra Island All Puerto Rico.

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.

8 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration N589JA, MSN 25, year of manufacture 1968.

Fatalities

Total

0

Crew

0

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

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.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

7

Estimated Survivors

8

Fatality Rate

0.0%

Known people on board: 8

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Vieques – Culebra

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Central America • Puerto Rico

Aircraft Details

Registration

N589JA

MSN

25

Year of Manufacture

1968

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