On September 26, 1978, a Beechcraft D18 (registration N500L) operated by Air Caribbean was involved in an aviation accident near San Juan-Luis Muñoz Marín (Isla Verde), Puerto Rico during landing or approach. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Uncontrolled descent on final approach due to wake turbulences. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An airplane crashed into houses in Barrio Obrero, San Juan, during final approach, killing all six occupants and injuring several people on the ground.
Accident Overview
On final approach to runway 10 at San Juan-Isla Verde Airport, the pilot lost control of the airplane, which subsequently crashed onto several houses in the district of Barrio Obrero, approximately 4 kilometers short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact. All six occupants on board were killed, and a few people on the ground sustained injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be an uncontrolled descent on final approach due to wake turbulence.
Contributing Factors
Several contributing factors were identified in the official findings:
Failure to follow approved procedures.
Vortex turbulence.
Malfunction of communications and navigation equipment, specifically transmitters and/or receivers.
Inability to communicate on the terminal radar service area frequency.