Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 N865VL

Summary

On 22 February 2026 at about 09:15 local time, a Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-27 registered N865VL was involved in an accident near Isla de Culebra, United States. 9 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No probable cause has been published yet; this accident is still under investigation.

Date

22 February 2026 at 09:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Isla de Culebra, United States

Nearest airport

Benjamin Rivera Noriega (CPX)

Coordinates

18.0000, 65.0000

Aircraft

Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2B-27

Registration

N865VL

Category

Airplane

Year built

1987

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Business

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ceiba → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA26LA137

Nobody was injured.

The NTSB has not published a probable cause for this record. The investigation is still open; a final report usually follows one to two years after the accident.

Nothing about the cause is stated here that is not in the source record.

Read the full NTSB narrative

On February 22, 2026, at 0915 Atlantic standard time, a Pilatus Brittan-Norman Limited, BN-2B-27 Islander, N865VL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (CPX), Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico. The airline transport pilot and eight passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air taxi flight. According to the operator, the flight departed from Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport (RVR), Ceiba, Puerto Rico, and was destined for CPX. Following an uneventful landing at CPX, the airplane exited the runway and entered the taxiway. The pilot reported that he was taxiing toward the terminal and performed a second right turn when the airplane experienced a loss of right braking action. The airplane then veered to the left and departed the paved surface of the taxiway onto the adjacent grass area, where it traversed over a drain overflow. The pilot regained control of the airplane and continued to the terminal where the passengers deplaned. The pilot assessed that the airplane sustained minor damage and subsequently flew the airplane to the operator’s maintenance facility for further inspection. During a follow up inspection, maintenance personnel observed that the left wing in the main landing gear well was buckled. Additionally, the right brake caliper seal was leaking. The airplane was retained for further examination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.