What happened
On a scheduled flight from Saint Maarten Airport to Saint-Barthélemy Airport, an aircraft carrying 17 passengers and two crew members was performing a landing approach. While cruising at 1,500 feet, the crew transitioned from the Sint Maarten Juliana aerodrome frequency to the Saint-Barthélemy Information frequency. After passing the Fourchue reporting point, the flight crew reported passing the Pain de Sucre waypoint while preparing for a final approach to runway 10.
During the short final phase of the approach, near the La Tourmente pass, observers including an AFIS agent witnessed the aircraft execute a sharp left turn characterized by a steep bank and a sudden dive toward the terrain. The impact occurred near a residential structure, which subsequently caught fire. The accident resulted in 19 fatalities on board the aircraft, as well as one fatality of an individual located in the nearby house.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to utilize the propellers in the reverse beta range to assist with directional control during the final approach. This action created a significant thrust asymmetry when transitioning out of the reverse beta range, leading to a loss of both yaw and roll control.
Several secondary factors contributed to the accident, including:
- The pilot's lack of recent experience operating this specific aircraft type
- The inherent difficulty of performing an approach to runway 10 at Saint-Barthélemy
- Time pressure experienced during the flight
- The low altitude at which the loss of control occurred