Aircraft and Crew
The accident aircraft was a Cessna T210N, registered XB-LLD, manufactured in 1981. It was powered by a single Teledyne Continental TSIO-520-R piston engine. The aircraft had a history of undocumented modifications, including an amateur-added fuel system that increased capacity by approximately 600 liters via plastic containers in the cabin and extended wingtips. The two pilots held Commercial Pilot's Licences from Mexico and Colombia respectively. Pilot A had a multi-engine and instrument rating, while Pilot B's experience was not detailed. Toxicology found cocaine metabolites and chlorphenamine in Pilot A; Pilot B's results were negative.
History of the Flight
On 14 November 2011, at about 0345 UTC, residents of the southern coast of Cayman Brac heard a light aircraft engine. At about 0400 UTC, a witness saw a single-engine aircraft with no lights passing overhead from west to east. Another witness heard the engine noise decrease, sharply increase, then stop. Emergency services were called. The wreckage was located at 0500 UTC. No international flight plan was found, and no radio calls were recorded. The aircraft had departed from Chetumal Airport, Mexico, at 2035 UTC the previous day, with a handwritten flight plan to 'XFQC' (an unrecognized code). Two Garmin GPS units were recovered; data showed a track from Chetumal across Belize, then east over the Caribbean Sea, ending at 0202 UTC about 196 nm south of Cayman Brac.
Accident Site and Impact
The accident occurred 9 miles north-east of Gerrard Smith International Airport on Cayman Brac, on an unlit, straight road about 28-30 feet wide, built for proposed development. Wooden poles lined the southern edge at 70-80 m intervals. The aircraft attempted to land westbound. Initial contact was a light scuff on a pole about 8 m above ground, with a fiberglass fragment from the left wingtip found nearby. The left wing then struck trees, breaking away pieces. About 140 m further, a major impact with another pole occurred, likely on the nose, causing severe airframe disruption and snapping the pole. The aircraft cartwheeled and came to rest upright, pointing about 90° right of its impact track. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. A large spill of Avgas from cabin fuel containers occurred, but no fire.
Wreckage Examination
The engine detached on impact; the propeller hub was extensively damaged, with only one blade attached. The cabin had ten 60-liter detergent containers (some ruptured) and flexible hoses from wing roots. The rear seats had been removed to accommodate the containers. The aircraft had a Certificate of Airworthiness issued October 2010, and logbooks showed a revalidation inspection on 19 October 2011 with 2,404 total airframe hours. The engine and propeller had 22 operating hours since overhaul. No records of the period 2003-2009 were found.
Meteorological Conditions
At the time, airports were closed and no official weather data was available. Police reported excellent visibility, no low cloud, a bright almost full moon, and easterly wind at about 12 kt. The road stood out clearly from surrounding terrain.