What happened
Shortly after departing from San Juan, an aircraft was performing cruise flight along the coastline when the pilot reported a failure of the left engine to air traffic control. Following instructions from controllers, the crew was vectored toward the closest available airport. During the emergency descent, the pilot determined that the aircraft could not reach land and executed a ditching maneuver approximately 400 meters from the shore.
The impact occurred in heavy seas, causing the aircraft to sink rapidly into the ocean. The wreckage was not recovered following the incident, though some debris eventually surfaced. Among the occupants of the aircraft, one fatality was recorded due to drowning, while 11 injuries were reported, including four individuals who sustained serious harm.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified a powerplant failure during the cruise phase as the primary issue. The sequence of events involved an initial failure of the left engine, followed by a loss of power in the right engine. Several contributing factors were noted, including insufficient preflight preparation by the pilot and the absence of an emergency briefing prior to takeoff. The conditions of the ditching, specifically the heavy sea state, also played a role in the outcome.