Engine oil pressure failure and ground impact during go-around at Lantana

No fatalities • Palm Beach County Park-Lantana, United States of America • Landing (descent or approach)

An aircraft experienced a right engine oil pressure warning during takeoff, leading to an aborted approach and subsequent ground collision during a go-around maneuver.

What happened

During the preflight phase of the flight, the pilot performed a standard inspection, which included verifying the engine oil levels. Following this, ground personnel replenished the oil reservoirs and reportedly fastened the filler caps. Shortly after takeoff, roughly two minutes into the flight, the pilot observed a warning light indicating low oil pressure in the right engine.

After notifying Palm Beach Approach Control of the mechanical issue, the pilot deactivated the right engine and initiated a return to Lantana. While performing the approach to runway 03 with flaps fully extended, the pilot heard a radio transmission from another aircraft taxiing for departure. Consequently, the pilot decided to execute a go-around approximately 1500 feet from the end of the 3000-foot runway.

During the transition to runway 15, the aircraft type collided with the ground. Post-accident investigations of the wreckage revealed that oil was streaming from behind the right engine onto the wing strut.

Findings

An examination of the engine components determined that the oil filler cap had not been correctly secured. This failure to properly install the cap was the primary factor leading to the loss of oil pressure.

Probable cause

The improper installation of the engine oil filler cap by ground personnel led to a loss of oil pressure during flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1999-04-05 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident near Palm Beach County Park-Lantana, United States of America?

An aircraft experienced a right engine oil pressure warning during takeoff, leading to an aborted approach and subsequent ground collision during a go-around maneuver.

Were there any fatalities in the 1999-04-05 De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1999-04-05 involved a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration N838MA, operated by Carib-Air Cargo, at Palm Beach County Park-Lantana, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The improper installation of the engine oil filler cap by ground personnel led to a loss of oil pressure during flight.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.