Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 accident near Carolina, PR
On April 15, 2002, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Carolina, PR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 15, 2002
- Place
- Carolina, PR
- Aircraft
- Mitsubishi MU-2B-35 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 18.394°N, 65.983°W
- NTSB ID
- 20020419X00555
Official records · MIA02FA084
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Transcript of Radio Communications: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 15, 2002, about 1503 Atlantic standard time, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-35, N45BS, registered to Maxfly Aviation, Inc., operated by Crucian International Airlines, experienced a loss of control while orbiting and crashed at an automobile parts and service facility near Carolina, Puerto Rico. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed in the area at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 positioning flight from Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX), St. Croix, U.S.V.I., to Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (TJSJ), San Juan, Puerto Rico. The airplane was destroyed by impact and a post crash fire and the airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. One individual on the ground at the automobile facility was fatally injured and two individuals at the facility sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from St. Croix, about 1436. On the day of the accident at 1345, the pilot phoned the San Juan Automated Flight Service Station (SJU AFSS), and filed two flight plans, neither of which involve the accident flight. The pilot did not obtain a preflight weather briefing during the phone call. According to a transcription of communications with the San Juan Combined En Route Approach Control facility, at 1437:47, the pilot contacted the facility and advised that the flight had departed from TISX, climbing through 2,500 to 8,500 en route to TJSJ. The pilot was provided a discrete transponder code and the flight was radar identified. The flight continued and at 1454:07, air traffic control communic
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed (Vs) while maneuvering following inadvertent encounter with clouds resulting in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent and subsequent in-flight collision with trees, a wall, and a building.
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Browse: Puerto Rico · Mitsubishi aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
