Détails:
N75KW initiated takeoff from West Palm Beach at 19:40. The crew rejected the takeoff, reported that they had no airspeed indication and taxied back to the ramp. It appeared that both pitot tubes were covered or partially covered with a mud dauber's nest. The airspeed indicator then tested ok and the flight took off from runway 09L at 20:35. The crew were cleared to climb to 5,000 feet, to intercept Bahama Route 63V (BR 63V), and to proceed on course. At 20:49:23 Miami center cleared N75KW for the approach to Freeport and to cross the Halbi intersection at 4,000 feet. Around 20:57 Freeport approach control cleared the flight to descend to 1,400 feet for a VOR approach to land on runway 24 at Freeport, which was acknowledged. This was the last radio contact with the flight.
The DC-3 descended into the sea in low ceilings, low visibility with moderate turbulence and thunderstorm activity.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Unable to determine the probable cause of this accident from the available evidence. Although the Board has been unable to determine the probable cause with any degree of precision, the following factors may have contributed:
1) Flight into known thunderstorm activities and turbulence;
2) Pre-existing discrepancies in the pitot/static system of the aircraft and their effect on the reliability of the flight instruments;
3) Lack of operational control exercised by the airline's management."
» NTSB-AAR-80-05
| Statuts: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | vendredi 12 septembre 1980 |
| Heure: | 20:58 |
| Type/Sous-type: |  Douglas DC-3A |
| Compagnie: | Florida Commuter Airlines |
| Immatriculation: | N75KW |
| Numéro de série: | 4861 |
| Année de Fabrication: | 1942 |
| Heures de vol: | 64700 |
| Moteurs: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Equipage: | victimes: 4 / à bord: 4 |
| Passagers: | victimes: 30 / à bord: 30 |
| Total: | victimes: 34 / à bord: 34 |
| Dégats de l'appareil: | Perte Totale |
| Conséquences: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Lieu de l'accident: | 6,5 km (4.1 milles) SW de West End Settlement ( Bahamas)
|
| Phase de vol: | En approche (APR) |
| Nature: | Charter International |
| Aéroport de départ: | West Palm Beach International Airport, FL (PBI/KPBI), Etats-Unis d'Amérique |
| Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO/MYGF), Bahamas |
N75KW initiated takeoff from West Palm Beach at 19:40. The crew rejected the takeoff, reported that they had no airspeed indication and taxied back to the ramp. It appeared that both pitot tubes were covered or partially covered with a mud dauber's nest. The airspeed indicator then tested ok and the flight took off from runway 09L at 20:35. The crew were cleared to climb to 5,000 feet, to intercept Bahama Route 63V (BR 63V), and to proceed on course. At 20:49:23 Miami center cleared N75KW for the approach to Freeport and to cross the Halbi intersection at 4,000 feet. Around 20:57 Freeport approach control cleared the flight to descend to 1,400 feet for a VOR approach to land on runway 24 at Freeport, which was acknowledged. This was the last radio contact with the flight.
The DC-3 descended into the sea in low ceilings, low visibility with moderate turbulence and thunderstorm activity.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "Unable to determine the probable cause of this accident from the available evidence. Although the Board has been unable to determine the probable cause with any degree of precision, the following factors may have contributed:
1) Flight into known thunderstorm activities and turbulence;
2) Pre-existing discrepancies in the pitot/static system of the aircraft and their effect on the reliability of the flight instruments;
3) Lack of operational control exercised by the airline's management."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
» NTSB Safety Recommendations A-81-35» NTSB-AAR-80-05
Opérations de secours
NTSB issued 1 Safety Recommendation
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Photos
Plan
Ce plan montre l'aéroport de départ ainsi que la supposée destination du vol. La ligne fixe reliant les deux aéroports n'est pas le plan de vol exact.
La distance entre West Palm Beach International Airport, FL et Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport est de 139 km (87 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
La distance entre West Palm Beach International Airport, FL et Freeport-Grand Bahama International Airport est de 139 km (87 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Les informations ci-dessus ne représentent pas l'opinion de la 'Flight Safety Foundation' ou de 'Aviation Safety Network' sur les causes de l'accident. Ces informations prélimimaires sont basées sur les faits tel qu'ils sont connus à ce jour.
languages: 
Bahamas
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 4369ème loss
- 1728ème accident fatal
- le accident 18ème le plus grave (à ce moment là)
- le accident 19ème le plus grave (en ce moment)
Bahamas- le accident The le plus grave (à ce moment là)
- le accident The le plus grave (en ce moment)
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