Accident Details
On August 7, 1997, at approximately 1248 Atlantic Standard Time, two Britten-Norman BN-2 airplanes collided in flight over the landing threshold of runway 08 at Diego Jimenez Airport in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Both aircraft were conducting visual approaches at the uncontrolled airport. The pilot of N1202S was executing a non-standard right traffic pattern approach, while the pilot of N26JA was executing a standard left traffic pattern approach. The collision occurred about 100 feet above ground level.
Witness Accounts
Passengers aboard N26JA reported observing the other airplane approaching from the right, much lower than their own aircraft, and then disappearing beneath them. The next time they saw the other airplane, they were colliding into its tail section.
Investigation
Examination of both airplanes revealed no mechanical discrepancies. The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout.