What happened
On March 31, 2004, a Cessna 402B, registration N269JH, was conducting an international cargo operation from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to Walker's Cay Airport in the Bahamas. The flight, operated by Tropic Air Charters, Inc., was being flown under visual flight rules in clear weather conditions.
Upon touchdown at Walker's Cay, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous collapse of all landing gear. The pilot observed the right wing dipping toward the ground, which appeared to be caused by a tire failure. While the pilot managed to use the rudder to keep the aircraft straight for roughly 1,000 feet following the initial impact, the plane eventually veered toward the right side of the runway. During this excursion, the aircraft struck a tree, resulting in damage to the fuselage and the left wing. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, but the pilot escaped the incident without any injuries.
Findings
- The incident began with the collapse of the landing gear assembly immediately following landing.
- A tire failure on the right side was identified as the likely trigger for the wing dip.
- The aircraft's path deviated from the runway centerline, leading to a collision with vegetation.