What happened
During an approach to Vieques, an aircraft operating from Christiansted experienced a simultaneous failure of both engines. In response to the loss of propulsion, the pilot attempted to perform a ditching maneuver. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ocean several miles away from the coast.
As a result of the impact, there were five fatalities among the passengers. Additionally, five other occupants sustained injuries during the accident.
Findings
The investigation into the crash identified several critical issues regarding the flight's operation. The primary factor was a double engine failure occurring while the aircraft was in its cruise phase, which led to the forced landing on the water.
Contributing elements included:
- Inadequate preflight preparations by the pilot
- Improper management of fuel levels
- Total fuel exhaustion