Incident Overview
A scheduled commuter flight conducting a visual approach at night ended when the aircraft crashed into the sea approximately 3 miles southwest of the airport. The pilot, who had been flying the route for five days with no prior experience in the area, reported no mechanical malfunctions with the aircraft systems, flight controls, or engines.
Navigational Issues
During the approach from the south over the sea, the pilot changed the navigation radio from the VOR to the ILS system for runway 10. This action resulted in the loss of DME reading from the VOR located on a hill north of the localizer course. The localizer indicated the aircraft was south of the localizer course. Without DME from the VOR, the pilot believed the aircraft was much closer to the island and the airport than it actually was.
Descent and Impact
As the pilot attempted to make visual contact with the airport and maintain clearance from the hills, he allowed the aircraft to descend. The aircraft subsequently crashed into the sea about 3 miles southwest of the airport.
Flight Plan and Surveillance
The pilot had not filed an FAA flight plan for the flight. Additionally, no FAA Operations inspectors had conducted surveillance on the company's flight operations in the Caribbean since service had begun in December 1996.
# Probable Cause
The failure of the pilot to maintain altitude while making a visual approach at night over water in black hole conditions, resulting in the aircraft descending and crashing into the sea. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot and operator to use all available air traffic control and navigational facilities, and the FAA Principle Operations Inspector's inadequate surveillance of the operation.