McDonnell Douglas DC-3C N134FS
10 May 1991 · Aguadilla · Fatal
Summary
On 10 May 1991 at about 15:20 local time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-3C registered N134FS, operated by Four Star Aviation, was involved in an accident near Aguadilla. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Aguadilla
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- McDonnell Douglas DC-3C
- Registration
- N134FS
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- Four Star Aviation
- Operating rule
- Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Aguadilla → Ponce
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA91FA140
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED (VS) AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE NO. 8 ENGINE ASSEMBLY CYLINDER. THIS RESULTED IN AN IN FLIGHT LOSS OF CONTROL (STALL), AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON THE LEFT ENGINE ON TAKEOFF CLIMB DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 8 ENGINE ASSEMBLY CYLINDER. THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED BY WITNESSES AT 400 FEET AGL IN A 20 DEGREE LEFT BANK WHILE MANEUVERING TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. THE ANGLE OF BANK INCREASED TO 60 DEGREES WITH A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN AIRSPEED WHILE THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED BELOW 300 FEET AGL. THE LEFT WING DROPPED 90 DEGREES TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN VERTICALLY. THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO REGAIN ELEVATOR AUTHORITY AND LEVELED OUT BEFORE ENCOUNTERING A SECONDARY STALL. THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND WAS DESTROYED BY POSTCRASH FIRE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.