Fairchild SA227-AC accident near La Alianza, PR
On December 3, 2013, a Fairchild SA227-AC (airplane) was involved in an accident near La Alianza, PR. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- December 3, 2013
- Place
- La Alianza, PR
- Aircraft
- Fairchild SA227-AC · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 18.384°N, 66.588°W
- NTSB ID
- 20131203X94343
Official records · ERA14MA060
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
Air traffic control records
- Excerpts, FAA Air Traffic Control Transcript: Transcript (PDF), on ntsb.gov
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn December 2, 2013, at 2010 Atlantic standard time, a Fairchild SA227-AC, N831BC, operating as IBC Airways flight 405 ("Chasqui 405"), was destroyed during a rapid descent and subsequent inflight breakup near La Alianza, Puerto Rico. The captain and the first officer were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The international cargo flight was operating on an instrument flight rules flight plan between Las Americas International Airport (MDSD), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and San Juan International Airport (TJSJ), San Juan, Puerto Rico, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. According to operator records, the accident flight occurred during the return leg of a round trip between TJSJ and MDSD. Prior to the outbound flight, "normal dispatch requirements were met," and the airplane took on fuel at TJSJ for both legs. The airplane departed MDSD on the accident flight at 1936. A review of radio transmission transcripts indicated that the crew first contacted the San Juan Combined En route Approach Control (CERAP) facility at 1948, 13 nautical miles west of "MELLA" intersection at 11,000 feet. At 2001, the crew was told to descend to 7,000 feet at "pilot's discretion," and at 2007, the crew was advised to change frequency to the next CERAP sector controller. The crew subsequently contacted the next controller, "leaving one one thousand, descending to seven thousand." The controller then advised the crew to maintain 3,000 feet, expect the ILS (instrument landing system) approach, proceed direct to the
Probable cause
The flight crew's excessive elevator input during a rapid descent under night lighting conditions, which resulted in the overstress and breakup of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was an initial loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
More accidents in PR
- Cessna 206H, Feb 8, 2009
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- Piper PA23, Jun 2, 2020
Browse: Puerto Rico · Fairchild 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.
