What happened
On May 31, 2021, at approximately 12:45 PM, a Cessna 402C, registered as N997TA, arrived at South Bimini Airport (MYBS) in the Bahamas from Opa-Locka Airport, Florida. During the approach and landing phase, the pilot landed the aircraft on Runway 10L, which was officially closed at the time due to active construction work.
As the aircraft touched down, it struck orange barricades that had been positioned across the runway to signal its unserviceable status. The impact caused the nose gear and the right main gear to collapse. This structural failure forced the aircraft into a rightward spin, leading to a runway excursion. While there were zero injuries to the single occupant on board, the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation established that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) had been issued on May 21, 2021, specifically warning pilots that the runway was closed for construction. This notice advised airmen to use extreme caution due to the presence of personnel and equipment near the runway. In addition to the NOTAM, physical orange barriers had been placed to prevent the use of the runway.
Investigators noted a discrepancy regarding the cause of the incident. While the pilot's written statement claimed an engine failure occurred, company personnel who inspected the aircraft disputed this claim. Furthermore, investigators were unable to conduct a follow-up interview with the pilot, and the FAA International Field Office was also unsuccessful in establishing contact with the airman.
Findings
- The pilot landed on a runway that was explicitly marked as closed via NOTAM and physical barriers.
- The collision with the orange barricades was the direct cause of the landing gear collapse and subsequent excursion.
- Pilot error was identified as the primary cause of the safety regulation breach, as the pilot failed to observe the established warnings and physical obstructions indicating the runway was unserviceable.