Vieques - Christiansted

On August 2, 1984 at 08:05 AM, Vieques - Christiansted experienced a crash involving Britten-Norman Islander, operated by Vieques Air Link, with the event recorded near Vieques All Puerto Rico.

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

9 people were known to be on board, 9 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 8, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. Flight 901A departed the ramp in Vieques about 0755 with eight passengers aboard, all of whom had reserved seats and purchased tickets for Flight 901. The pilot of Flight 901A contacted the UNICOM as he taxied out to the takeoff end of runway 09. The UNICOM operator informed hym that there was no other traffic in the area. According to a mechanic at the airport, after takeoff, the airplane appeared to climb out normally; however, he said that as the airplane turned left in a crosswind departure pattern, it appeared to lose power when about 200 feet above the ocean. He stated that the airplane then gained about 50 feet, while in a nose-high attitude, and that he then heard the engines develop more power, before the plane descended into the ocean. The airplane had crashed into the ocean north of the departure end of runway 09 and about 1/2 mile off shore. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N589SA, MSN 38, year of manufacture 1968.