Accident
On December 14, 2010, at approximately 1442 eastern standard time, a Hawker Beechcraft TC-45J, registration N38L, operated by Monarch Air Group, struck the ocean about 7 miles southwest of Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN) in Nassau, Bahamas. The airplane was conducting a non-scheduled, on-demand, air-taxi cargo flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. It had departed Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (KFFL), Florida, at about 1347. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
The aircraft was on a 7-mile left downwind leg for runway 32 at MYNN, maintaining 2,000 feet mean sea level, when radar and radio contact were lost. Fragments of the airplane and the passenger were recovered from the water surface near the impact location. The main wreckage and the pilot were not recovered. The airplane was presumed destroyed. The pilot and passenger were killed.
Aircraft and Operator
The aircraft was a Hawker Beechcraft TC-45J, a twin-engine variant. It was registered to and operated by Monarch Air Group, based at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The specific age or history of the aircraft was not disclosed in the report. The flight was a cargo operation under Part 135.
Investigation
The investigation into the accident is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. The responsible authority is the Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas. Further information may be obtained from that office. No probable cause has been determined or stated in the available information.