Aircraft disappearance during night flight from Santo Domingo

1 fatality • Santo Domingo-Las Américas, Dominican Republic • Takeoff (climb)

An aircraft disappeared at sea while climbing following a departure from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport during a positioning flight.

What happened

On a scheduled positioning flight from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport to San Juan, Puerto Rico, an aircraft disappeared during its initial climb. The flight departed the Dominican Republic at 20:26 local time under night flight conditions. During the ascent phase, the pilot reportedly lost control of the aircraft type/model (not specified in source), leading to a crash into the ocean a few kilometers away from the coast.

Following the loss of contact, search and rescue operations were launched to locate the wreckage and the crew. Despite these efforts, the search yielded no evidence of the aircraft or the single pilot involved in the flight. No information regarding zero survivors or specific injury counts has been confirmed as no debris or persons were recovered.

Findings

Initial reports indicate that the loss of control occurred during the climb phase of the flight. The disappearance took place in darkness, complicating the immediate search efforts near the offshore crash site.

Probable cause

The pilot lost control of the aircraft during the climbing phase of the flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2008-08-18 Cessna 501 Citation I accident near Santo Domingo-Las Américas, Dominican Republic?

An aircraft disappeared at sea while climbing following a departure from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport during a positioning flight.

Were there any fatalities in the 2008-08-18 Cessna 501 Citation I accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2008-08-18 involved a Cessna 501 Citation I, registration N223LC, operated by Corus Hardware Corporation, at Santo Domingo-Las Américas, Dominican Republic.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot lost control of the aircraft during the climbing phase of the flight.

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