Miami - Port-au-Prince
Flight / Schedule
Miami - Port-au-Prince
Aircraft
Learjet 25Registration
N211MB
MSN
25-059
Year of Manufacture
1970
Operator
Merchant BankDate
March 3, 1980 at 08:25 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Executive/Corporate/Business
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Port-au-Prince West
Region
Central America • Haiti
Coordinates
18.5484°, -72.3457°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On March 3, 1980 at 08:25 PM, Miami - Port-au-Prince experienced a crash involving Learjet 25, operated by Merchant Bank, with the event recorded near Port-au-Prince West.
The flight was categorized as executive/corporate/business and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
4 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 150.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 2, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 3.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The descent to Port-au-Prince-François Duvalier Airport was initiated by night. For unknown reasons, the airplane was too low and crashed onto houses located about 21 km from the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. For unknown reason, the crew as approaching at an insufficient altitude.
Aircraft reference details include registration N211MB, MSN 25-059, year of manufacture 1970.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 18.5484°, -72.3457°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
2
Passengers
1
Other
3
Crash Summary
The descent to Port-au-Prince-François Duvalier Airport was initiated by night. For unknown reasons, the airplane was too low and crashed onto houses located about 21 km from the airport. A passenger was seriously injured while three other occupants as well as three people on the ground were killed. For unknown reason, the crew as approaching at an insufficient altitude.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
2
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
150.0%
Known people on board: 4
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Miami - Port-au-Prince
Operator
Merchant BankFlight Type
Executive/Corporate/Business
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Central America • Haiti
Aircraft Details
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