Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 17 July 1994
Aircraft Type: IRMA/Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-26ÿIslander
Owner/operator: Air Martinique, lsf Trans Island Air
Registration Number: 8P-TAD
Location: 13 km NNW of Fort de France-Lamentin Airport (FDF) –
ÿ Martinique
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: The Islander aircraft’s flight control system.The Islander aircraft’s flight control system.
Investigating Agency: BEABEA
Category: Accident
An Islander aircraft struck the side of Les Pitons du Cabbets during a night visual approach to Runway 09 at Fort de France. The incident resulted in damage to the aircraft.An Islander aircraft struck the side of Les Pitons du Cabbets during a night visual approach to Runway 09 at Fort de France. The incident resulted in damage to the aircraft.
Description
The Islander was cleared for a visual approach to runway 09 at Fort de France. It struck the side of Les Pitons du Cabbets, 15 feet below the summit of this 2795 feet high hill. CAUSES: “The accident was caused by the pilot’s failure to identify the airdrome installations before the start of the night visual approach procedure under an IFR flight plan. The probable failure of the onboard DME and the imprecise navigation contributed to the accident.”
Primary Cause
Pilot’s failure to identify airdromes before initiating the approach, compounded by DME malfunction and imprecise navigation.Pilot’s failure to identify airdromes before initiating the approach, compounded by DME malfunction and imprecise navigation.Share on:
