What happened
On October 5, 2010, a Cessna 402C, registered as C6-NLH, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after departing runway 14 at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas. The aircraft, operated by Acklins Blue Air Charter/Nelson Hanna, was performing a visual flight rules passenger flight destined for Cockburn Town, San Salvador.
During the takeoff roll, witnesses observed white smoke trailing from the left engine. While the initial climb appeared normal and the landing gear was retracted, the aircraft struggled to gain altitude. The plane was seen performing a left turn over the lake, appearing to attempt a return to the airport. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered a steep bank, the gear was extended, and the plane subsequently nose-dived into the water in an inverted position. The impact caused substantial damage to the airframe.
There were 9 fatalities in total, including the pilot, the co-pilot, and seven passengers. Although the flight plan initially listed only one occupant, investigators discovered additional persons on board. A ninth victim's body was recovered from the nearby marshes two days later.
Findings
Investigations by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department revealed that the aircraft was significantly overloaded. It is estimated that the takeoff weight exceeded the maximum allowable limit of 6,850 pounds by more than 500 pounds. This excess weight also caused the center of gravity to shift outside of the manufacturer's safe operating limits.
Prior to the flight, other local charter operators had declined to perform the same mission because the volume of luggage and the size of the passengers suggested the weight would exceed the capacity of their own aircraft. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft's certificate allowed for a single pilot, a crew of two was operating the flight.