Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie

En route from Christiansted to Charlotte Amalie, while in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off St Thomas Island when the seaplane crashed into the sea. Three passengers and the pilot, Cpt Charles Blair (69), owner of the company, were killed. Seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.

Flight / Schedule

Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie

Registration

N7777V

MSN

B111

Year of Manufacture

1945

Date

September 2, 1978 at 10:21 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Saint Thomas All US Virgin Islands

Region

Central America • US Virgin Islands

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On September 2, 1978 at 10:21 AM, Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie experienced a crash involving Grumman G-21A Goose, operated by Antilles Air Boats, with the event recorded near Saint Thomas All US Virgin Islands.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 36.4%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 10, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. En route from Christiansted to Charlotte Amalie, while in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off St Thomas Island when the seaplane crashed into the sea. Three passengers and the pilot, Cpt Charles Blair (69), owner of the company, were killed. Seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.

Aircraft reference details include registration N7777V, MSN B111, year of manufacture 1945.

Fatalities

Total

4

Crew

1

Passengers

3

Other

0

Crash Summary

En route from Christiansted to Charlotte Amalie, while in cruising altitude, one of the engine failed. The pilot attempted to ditch the aircraft off St Thomas Island when the seaplane crashed into the sea. Three passengers and the pilot, Cpt Charles Blair (69), owner of the company, were killed. Seven other occupants were injured. The aircraft was lost.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

1

Passengers On Board

10

Estimated Survivors

7

Fatality Rate

36.4%

Known people on board: 11

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Christiansted – Charlotte Amalie

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

Central America • US Virgin Islands

Aircraft Details

Registration

N7777V

MSN

B111

Year of Manufacture

1945

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