
Narrative:
Tropical Airways flight 1301, a Let 410, took off from runway 05 at Cap Haitien Airport about 04:50 for a flight to Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Shortly after takeoff the pilot requested clearance to return to the airport in order to close the door of the forward baggage hold, which had apparently opened during takeoff. On the right base leg when starting the turn onto final, the aircraft stalled and impacted a sugar cane field.
MAIN CAUSE (translated from original French language report):
Stall during approach phase while on the downwind leg caused by the loss of VMC at low altitude.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1) failure of the crew to manage the approach procedure (Poor CRM)
a) use of maximum flaps (42°)
b) insufficient altitude
c) lack of coordination between crew members
2) possible state of fatigue of the captain
3) Possible excess weight
4) opening of the baggage hold door, observed during takeoff.
Loss of control
» Tropical Airways
» AP
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Sunday 24 August 2003 |
| Time: | 04:57 |
| Type: |  Let L-410UVP-E3 |
| Operator: | Tropical Airways |
| Registration: | HH-PRV |
| MSN: | 872001 |
| First flight: | 1987 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 2982 |
| Cycles: | 4154 |
| Engines: | 2 Walter M-601E |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 21 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 2 km (1.3 mls) SW of Cap Haitien Airport (CAP) ( Haiti)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Cap Haitien Airport (CAP/MTCH), Haiti |
| Port-de-Paix Airport (PAX/MTPX), Haiti | |
| Flightnumber: | 1301 |
Tropical Airways flight 1301, a Let 410, took off from runway 05 at Cap Haitien Airport about 04:50 for a flight to Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Shortly after takeoff the pilot requested clearance to return to the airport in order to close the door of the forward baggage hold, which had apparently opened during takeoff. On the right base leg when starting the turn onto final, the aircraft stalled and impacted a sugar cane field.
Probable Cause:
MAIN CAUSE (translated from original French language report):
Stall during approach phase while on the downwind leg caused by the loss of VMC at low altitude.
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
1) failure of the crew to manage the approach procedure (Poor CRM)
a) use of maximum flaps (42°)
b) insufficient altitude
c) lack of coordination between crew members
2) possible state of fatigue of the captain
3) Possible excess weight
4) opening of the baggage hold door, observed during takeoff.
Accident investigation:

 |
|
Classification:
Cargo door failureLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Adrep» Tropical Airways
» AP
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Cap Haitien Airport to Port-de-Paix Airport as the crow flies is 72 km (45 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Cap Haitien Airport to Port-de-Paix Airport as the crow flies is 72 km (45 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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