What happened
While performing a flight from Fort Lauderdale toward Great Inagua Island, the pilot transmitted a message indicating that the onboard fuel supply was insufficient for the remainder of the journey. Shortly thereafter, radar tracking of the aircraft was lost following an impact with the ocean surface.
Search and rescue operations were initiated immediately to locate the wreckage and the crew. Despite several days of intensive searching, the mission was terminated after investigators found no evidence of the aircraft or any debris. There were three fatalities as a result of the incident.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary reason for the accident was double engine failure caused by fuel exhaustion. Several secondary issues contributed to the loss of the aircraft, including:
- Insufficient preparation prior to the flight
- The crew becoming disoriented or lost during navigation
- Improper weight and balance due to an improperly loaded aircraft