What happened
On May 8, 1987, an CASA C-212 operated by Executive Air Charter, Inc. (doing business as American Eagle) was conducting a scheduled commuter flight from San Juan to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The aircraft departed at 0620 local time carrying two crewmembers and four passengers. During the approach to runway 9, the captain cancelled the existing flight plan and transitioned to a visual approach.
Witnesses on the ground provided varying accounts of the final moments of the flight. Some observers noted that the aircraft appeared to be traveling at an excessive speed and failed to maintain a standard downwind leg. As the plane approached the runway, several witnesses reported seeing the aircraft nose up, roll to the right, and then pitch downward. One witness observed the engine noise becoming unusually loud, while another reported hearing an explosion and seeing flames emanating from the right engine before it separated from the airframe.
A pilot operating a nearby crop duster noted that the aircraft appeared stable until approximately 1,000 feet in altitude. At roughly 100 feet above the ground, he heard a sound resembling a turboprop engine entering reverse pitch. This was followed by a rightward yaw and a subsequent roll to the left, which the pilot likely attempted to correct. The aircraft then rolled back to the right, causing the right wingtip to strike the ground and ignite a fire.
Passengers on board reported unusual sensations during the descent. One passenger noted that the engine noise sounded different than usual, while another observed a sudden loss of altitude accompanied by scraping sounds and a small flame near an engine. Despite the impact, all six occupants survived the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the aircraft suffered from an asymmetric power condition. This was caused by improper maintenance procedures regarding the engine fuel flow and the setting of the propeller flight idle blade angle. Additionally, the pilot's approach to the runway was determined to be unstabilized.