Aero Commander 112 accident near Vieques, PR
On February 16, 2004, an Aero Commander 112 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Vieques, PR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- February 16, 2004
- Place
- Vieques, PR
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander 112 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 18.152°N, 65.362°W
- NTSB ID
- 20080425X00545
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On February 15, 2004, about 2100 Atlantic Standard Time, an Aero Commander 112, N1261J, was substantially damaged when it impacted the ground, in the Vieques National Wildlife Refuge, Vieques, Puerto Rico. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (TJSJ), San Juan, Puerto Rico at approximately 2030 destined for Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (TISX), St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. A VFR flight plan was filed and activated for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. On February 16, 2004, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Route Traffic Control Center specialist assigned to the Center Radar Approach Control advised the National Transportation Safety Board that after departure from TJSJ, the accident airplane proceeded southeast, towards the Island of Saint Croix. It then began to descend over the ocean. He stated that as the airplane descended to about 1,000 feet above mean sea level (msl), radar contact was lost, and repeated attempts to contact the airplane were unsuccessful. The airplane failed to arrive at TISX, and was not located at any airport. The airplane was reported overdue about 2145. Search personnel then began an extensive search along the anticipated route of flight that included aircraft and surface vessels. Search efforts were unsuccessful and the search was suspended on February 23, 2004. After the search was suspended, Safety Board radar specialists reviewed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) archived radar da
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning and decision making which resulted in the airplane entering instrument meteorological conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of instrument experience, a vacuum pump failure, and the night lighting conditions.
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Browse: Puerto Rico · Aero Commander 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.
