De Havilland DHC6-300 5WFAU

Summary

On 22 March 1991 at about 04:20 local time, a De Havilland DHC6-300 registered 5WFAU, operated by Polynesian Airlines, was involved in an accident near Nuuuli, American Samoa. The number of people on board was not recorded. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

22 March 1991 at 04:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Nuuuli, American Samoa

Nearest airport

Pago Pago Intl (PPG)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

De Havilland DHC6-300

Registration

5WFAU

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Polynesian Airlines

Operating rule

Part 129: Foreign

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Apia, Wn Samoa → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

LAX91LA147

Injuries not recorded.

THE INADEQUATE LIGHTING OF THE GATE AT THE TERMINAL AND INADEQUATE TRAINING OF THE SECURITY GUARD BY COMPANY PERSONNEL. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS A DARK NIGHT CONDITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRCRAFT TAXIED TO THE GATE AFTER LANDING ON A DARK NIGHT. ALTHOUGH COMPANY INSTRUCTIONS PRESCRIBES THAT A GROUND GUIDE BE ASSIGNED TO DIRECT THE AIRCRAFT TO THE GATE NONE WERE PROVIDED. THE BAGGAGE HANDLERS AND SECURITY GUARD APPROACHED THE AIRCRAFT AS IT STOPPED AT THE GATE AND THE CREW SHUT DOWN THE ENGINES. DUE TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS THE AIRCRAFT WAS POSITIONED INTO THE WIND WHEN THE ENGINES WERE SHUT DOWN. THE ANGLE OF THE GATE LIGHTING PLACED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THE LEFT SPINNING PROPELLER IN SHADOWS. AFTER THE ENGINES WERE SHUT DOWN THE CAPTAIN OPENED THE LEFT COCKPIT DOOR TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT AND SAW THE GUARD ON THE GROUND UNDER THE LEFT PROPELLER. THE GUARD HAD BEEN FATALLY INJURED BY THE SPINNING PROPELLER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.