Aircraft excursion and fire at Great Harbour Airport

No fatalities • Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas • Landing (descent or approach)

A foreign air taxi flight ended in an aircraft destruction after a braking failure caused the plane to veer off the runway at Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas.

What happened

On a scheduled air taxi flight departing from Nassau, Bahamas, an aircraft was performing a landing at Great Harbour Airport in Great Harbour Cay. During the landing roll, the pilot experienced a failure of the braking system. To prevent the aircraft from encountering a steep drop-off at the runway's edge, the pilot steered the plane toward the left side of the runway.

This maneuver resulted in the aircraft exiting the paved surface and striking a ditch. The impact triggered a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the aircraft. The flight was operating under visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been submitted for the trip.

Findings

  • The incident resulted in nine total injuries, consisting of eight minor injuries and one serious injury.
  • The occupants included the pilot and seven passengers.
  • The primary factor in the excursion was the malfunction of the aircraft brakes during the landing phase.

Probable cause

A failure of the aircraft's braking system during the landing roll led the pilot to steer off the runway to avoid a drop-off, resulting in a collision with a ditch and subsequent fire.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1997-07-10 Cessna 402 accident near Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas?

A foreign air taxi flight ended in an aircraft destruction after a braking failure caused the plane to veer off the runway at Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas.

Were there any fatalities in the 1997-07-10 Cessna 402 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1997-07-10 involved a Cessna 402, registration N2717Y, operated by Airways International, at Great Harbour Cay, Bahamas.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

A failure of the aircraft's braking system during the landing roll led the pilot to steer off the runway to avoid a drop-off, resulting in a collision with a ditch and subsequent fire.

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