San Juan - Mayaguez

The airplane crashed on approach 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. A witness heard sound he associated with props going into reverse, then observed airplane emerge from clouds in a nose-low attitude. CVR tape revealed sound of an abrupt change in frequency and amplitude 10 seconds prior to impact. Exam of the left engine beta indicator lamp revealed heavy oxide deposit and stretched coils indicative of the lamp being illuminated at impact; right engine beta lamp was destroyed. Power levers and (beta mode) trigger locks operated normally; trigger return springs intact. Flight idle stops showed no evidence of excessive wear or deformation. The power lever (beta) blocking device lockout solenoid was tested electrically and functioned normally. The rigging of the beta lockout device could not be checked due to impact damage. The operator conducted a funct test of the electrical or backup beta blocking devices on the remaining 8 Casa 212 airplanes; 3 were found to be inoperative. Neither the manufacturing nor operator had an inspection or funct test requirement for the blocking devices. All five occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

San Juan - Mayaguez

Registration

N355CA

MSN

234

Year of Manufacture

1982

Operator

American Eagle

Date

June 7, 1992 at 02:34 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Mayaguez-Eugenio Maria de Hostos All Puerto Rico

Region

Central America • Puerto Rico

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On June 7, 1992 at 02:34 PM, San Juan - Mayaguez experienced a crash involving Casa 212 Aviocar, operated by American Eagle, with the event recorded near Mayaguez-Eugenio Maria de Hostos 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.

5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

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

The listed crash cause is human factor. The airplane crashed on approach 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. A witness heard sound he associated with props going into reverse, then observed airplane emerge from clouds in a nose-low attitude. CVR tape revealed sound of an abrupt change in frequency and amplitude 10 seconds prior to impact. Exam of the left engine beta indicator lamp revealed heavy oxide deposit and stretched coils indicative of the lamp being illuminated at impact; right engine beta lamp was destroyed. Power levers and (beta mode) trigger locks operated normally; trigger return springs intact. Flight idle stops showed no evidence of excessive wear or deformation. The power lever (beta) blocking device lockout solenoid was tested electrically and functioned normally. The rigging of the beta lockout device could not be checked due to impact damage. The operator conducted a funct test of the electrical or backup beta blocking devices on the remaining 8 Casa 212 airplanes; 3 were found to be inoperative. Neither the manufacturing nor operator had an inspection or funct test requirement for the blocking devices. All five occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration N355CA, MSN 234, year of manufacture 1982.

Fatalities

Total

5

Crew

2

Passengers

3

Other

0

Crash Summary

The airplane crashed on approach 3/4 mile southwest of the airport. A witness heard sound he associated with props going into reverse, then observed airplane emerge from clouds in a nose-low attitude. CVR tape revealed sound of an abrupt change in frequency and amplitude 10 seconds prior to impact. Exam of the left engine beta indicator lamp revealed heavy oxide deposit and stretched coils indicative of the lamp being illuminated at impact; right engine beta lamp was destroyed. Power levers and (beta mode) trigger locks operated normally; trigger return springs intact. Flight idle stops showed no evidence of excessive wear or deformation. The power lever (beta) blocking device lockout solenoid was tested electrically and functioned normally. The rigging of the beta lockout device could not be checked due to impact damage. The operator conducted a funct test of the electrical or backup beta blocking devices on the remaining 8 Casa 212 airplanes; 3 were found to be inoperative. Neither the manufacturing nor operator had an inspection or funct test requirement for the blocking devices. All five occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

2

Passengers On Board

3

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 5

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

San Juan - Mayaguez

Operator

American Eagle

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Central America • Puerto Rico

Aircraft Details

Registration

N355CA

MSN

234

Year of Manufacture

1982