San Juan - Ponce

On June 24, 1972 at 11:17 PM, San Juan - Ponce experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.114 Heron, operated by Prinair - Puerto Rico International Airlines, with the event recorded near Ponce 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.

20 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 15 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 18, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. 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.

Aircraft reference details include registration N554PR, MSN 14085, year of manufacture 1955.