Incident Overview
Date: Friday 27 December 2002
Aircraft Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Owner/operator: Tropic Air
Registration Number: V3-HGH
Location: off San Pedro Airport (SPR) –
ÿ Belize
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 14
Component Affected: VSI (Visual Flight Instrument).VSI (Visual Flight Instrument).
Category: Accident
A new Caravan 2002 model aircraft, operating in Belize City, experienced a sudden and uncontrolled descent during an IFR flight to San Pedro (SPR) due to a VSI indication of a rapid descent rate. The pilot initiated a climb, but the aircraft continued to descend, resulting in impact with the water.A new Caravan 2002 model aircraft, operating in Belize City, experienced a sudden and uncontrolled descent during an IFR flight to San Pedro (SPR) due to a VSI indication of a rapid descent rate. The pilot initiated a climb, but the aircraft continued to descend, resulting in impact with the water.
Description
The Caravan departed Belize City for an IFR flight to San Pedro (SPR). The fight approached runway 06/24 amidst rain showers. About 2.5 miles away from the runway threshold, at an altitude of about 400 feet the pilot started reducing power to maintain a speed of 120 knots for flap deployment, when suddenly there was an indication of a 1,000 feet per minute descent rate on the VSI. The pilot increased power to initiate a climb, however the airplane continued to descend and impacted the water. The Caravan was a brand new model, delivered February 2002.
Primary Cause
VSI indication of rapid descent rate.VSI indication of rapid descent rate.Share on:
