13 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident near Princess Juliana Airport (F-OGFE)

Sint Maarten, Dutch AntillesLanding (descent or approach)

On December 21, 1972, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter (registration F-OGFE) operated by Air Guadeloupe was involved in an aviation accident near Sint Maarten, Dutch Antilles during landing or approach. 13 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A Twin Otter crashed into the sea near Sint Maarten during a nighttime approach, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During a nighttime approach to Sint Maarten-Princess Juliana Airport, a Twin Otter disappeared after impacting the ocean. The aircraft went down in the sea at a location situated several kilometers away from the coastline. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.

There were 13 fatalities recorded following the accident, as all individuals on board perished in the crash. At the time of the incident, the specific circumstances surrounding the loss of the aircraft remained undetermined.

Findings

The exact cause of the crash into the water remains unknown, as the event occurred under night conditions and the precise sequence leading to the impact has not been established.