3 fatalities

1979-03-17: De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (C-GVYW) — Air Inuit — Caribbean Sea, World

Caribbean Sea, WorldFlight

On March 17, 1979, a De Havilland DHC-4 Caribou (registration C-GVYW) operated by Air Inuit was involved in an aviation accident near Caribbean Sea, World in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure for unknown reasons. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781225481Data APIEditorial standards

A ferry flight from Guyana to Quebec crashed south of Barbados after one engine failed and the second overheated. Search operations found no trace of the aircraft or its three crew members.

Incident Overview

A ferry flight en route from Guyana to Quebec (St Jean) crashed into the Caribbean Sea approximately 77 kilometers south of Bridgetown, Barbados. The aircraft had been in storage for 15 months in Guyana before departing on the ferry flight.

Sequence of Events

While cruising south of Barbados Island, the crew informed air traffic control that one engine had failed and the second engine was overheating. Minutes later, the aircraft crashed into the sea.

Search and Rescue

Search and rescue operations were initiated following the accident. However, after several days with no trace of the aircraft or its three crew members, the search was eventually abandoned.

Crew

The aircraft was crewed by three individuals: pilots Dave Holland and Grant Davidson, and flight engineer Richard Cusson.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause to be engine failure for unknown reasons.