Grand Case - Fort-de-France

On May 5, 2012 at 02:40 AM, Grand Case - Fort-de-France experienced a crash involving Piper PA-42 Cheyenne, operated by Transports Aériens Intercaraïbes, with the event recorded near Grand Case Saint-Martin.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 4 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: 3, passenger fatalities: 3, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The twin engine aircraft was engaged in an ambulance flight between Grand Case and Fort-de-France and was carrying a pilot, a nurse, a doctor and a patient, a Greek citizen in honeymoon in Saint Martin who suffered a heart attack. He normally should be transferred to Fort-de-France from Saint Martin-Princess Juliana Airport with another Operator but the aircraft suffered technical problem prior to departure and the patient was transferred to Grand Case Airport. Piper PA-42 left Grand Case-L'Espérance runway 12 at 02H39. One minute later, during initial climb, it lost height and crashed into the Caribbean Sea, some three NM off the airport, off Tintamarre Island. Around 1000LT in the morning, a wheel and some others debris were found floating in water and no trace of the four occupants was found. They were later considered as deceased.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-GXES, MSN 42-8001043, year of manufacture 1980.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 18.1005°, -63.0576°.