Accident Overview
On Monday, July 18, 1995, at 00:45 UTC (local time Sunday, July 17, 20:45), a Trans Island Air Britten-Norman BN2B, registration 8P-TAD, departed from Grantley Adams Airport in Barbados bound for Fort de France, Martinique. The aircraft carried one pilot and five passengers. The flight was operated on a charter basis for Société Nouvelle Air Martinique, transporting passengers originally scheduled on a Dornier 228 that was out of service. Another aircraft of the same type, 8P-TAC, also operated by Trans Island Air, preceded 8P-TAD on the same route.
Flight Sequence
At 01:39, at the approach controller's request, the pilot announced an estimated arrival time over the FOF beacon at 01:47. At 01:40, the pilot reported being at 2,700 feet, the minimum arrival altitude in that sector, on the 150 radial from FOF. He stated he had the field in sight and requested permission to make a visual approach. At 01:42, the pilot confirmed he had the field in sight and received clearance for a visual approach. The pilot of 8P-TAD made his last transmission at 01:45. By 01:48, he no longer responded to the controller's calls. The DETRESFA phase of search and rescue was initiated at 01:58.
Wreckage Discovery
The wreckage was found on July 19, 1995, at approximately 08:30, in the Carbet hills near Piton Lacroix in the commune of Bellefontaine.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by the pilot's failure to identify the airdrome installations before the start of the night visual approach procedure under an IFR flight plan. The probable failure of the onboard DME and imprecise navigation contributed to the accident.