Miami - Cockburn Town - Charlotte Amalie

On September 12, 1979 at 06:15 AM, Miami - Cockburn Town - Charlotte Amalie experienced a crash involving Curtiss C-46 Commando, operated by Rich International Airways, with the event recorded near Cockburn Town All Turks and Caicos Islands.

The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

3 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff from Cockburn Town Airport runway 11, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew attempted an emergency landing and ditched the aircraft in a lagoon, about 1,6 km from the runway end. The airplane came to rest in shallow water and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped uninjured.

Aircraft reference details include registration N7768B, MSN 467, year of manufacture 1945.