What happened
On June 17, 2003, an international non-scheduled flight operated by Execstar Aviation, Inc. was involved in an accident at a private airstrip on Little Whale Cay, Bahamas. The aircraft, a Cessna 402B with registration N3748C, had departed from Chub Cay approximately ten minutes prior to the incident.
During the landing phase, the pilot approached the 2,000-foot runway from the northwest, setting up for a landing to the southeast. While the aircraft was on final approach with flaps fully extended, the pilot maintained a speed of 95 knots before reducing to 8-8 knots once the runway was in sight. The runway surface was wet at the time of the arrival.
Upon touchdown within the first third of the runway, the pilot experienced a loss of braking effectiveness, suggesting the aircraft may have been hydroplaning. As the aircraft continued down the runway, it approached a seawall approximately four feet in height. In an attempt to clear the obstacle, the pilot applied aft elevator input. However, the main landing gear struck the seawall, causing the gear to separate from the airframe. The aircraft subsequently descended into the water. Despite the substantial damage to the aircraft, there were zero fatalities and zero injuries reported among the pilot and the two passengers, who were able to exit through an emergency window and reach the shore safely.
Findings
- The runway surface was wet, which contributed to inadequate braking and potential hydroplaning.
- The aircraft's main landing gear made contact with a seawall at the end of the runway, leading to structural failure of the gear.