Accident Overview
On December 17, 2009, at approximately 7:30 pm local time (2330 UTC), a Dassault Sud Falcon Fan Jet Mystere 20 Series D aircraft, registration N28RK, crashed in a remote area of Matthew Town, Great Inagua, Bahamas. The aircraft had departed Joaquin Balaguer International Airport (MDJB) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, en route to Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) in Florida, USA. The flight originated in Aruba, with a fuel stop at MDJB.
The accident occurred about 11.5 miles due east of Great Inagua International Airport at coordinates N 20° 58’ 30” latitude, W 073° 40’ 00.7” longitude. The aircraft impacted terrain on a heading of approximately 105 degrees magnetic. The crash site was inaccessible by land, requiring the investigation team to be airlifted by helicopter.
Witnesses on Great Inagua reported hearing a loud bang that rattled doors and windows but did not see the aircraft fall. A United States Coast Guard helicopter crew on a training mission nearby reported hearing a loud bang and observing a huge explosion and fireball on the ground. They saw no in-flight fire prior to the fireball. The post-impact fire engulfed approximately five acres of trees and brush in the National Wildlife Refuge at Great Inagua.
The coast guard crew discontinued their training, proceeded to the site, and lowered rescue personnel. However, due to intense heat and the extent of the fire, they had to discontinue the search. They notified authorities at Great Inagua, who alerted the National Transportation Safety Board and the accident investigation unit of the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft was under the command of Captain Harold Roy Mangels and First Officer Freddy Castro. ATC records indicate the flight was instructed to maintain 28,000 feet (FL280). The aircraft's transponder was reported inoperative. Without any declaration of emergency or mayday call, the aircraft began a rapid descent. The accident occurred approximately six miles off the filed flight path. Nighttime conditions prevailed at the time.
Investigation
Examination of the crash site revealed that the airplane struck the terrain at a high rate of speed and at approximately a 45-degree angle. The aircraft broke into many pieces upon impact, with debris scattered over a large area of rough terrain. A post-impact fire further destroyed much of the wreckage. Approximately less than 10% of the aircraft was recovered.
The “four corners” of the airplane were identified downstream of the initial ground impact. However, engine cowling parts were found prior to the point of initial ground impact, suggesting a possible overspeed condition before impact. The crew sustained fatal injuries. A search recovered less than 1% of what is believed to be possible human flesh or internal body parts, along with a piece of a pant with a belt buckle. These were collected by the Royal Bahamas Police Force and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Nassau for DNA analysis.
Findings
The official probable cause of the accident was determined as loss of control. Investigators noted that insufficient wreckage was recovered to make a conclusive determination as to the cause of the accident.