Incident Overview
After takeoff from Christiansted-Henry E. Rohlsen Airport on a cargo flight to Miami, the crew detected a fire in engine number 3 and declared an emergency. Air traffic control cleared the aircraft to return for an emergency landing.
Emergency Response
The crew managed to extinguish the fire and feather the propeller. However, they subsequently encountered controllability problems. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft a few kilometers offshore.
Ditching and Rescue
The aircraft came to rest in water and sank approximately 45 minutes after ditching. Two crew members were rescued, but the copilot drowned.
Probable Cause
Official findings determined that the probable cause was a fire or explosion in the number 3 engine during flight for undetermined reasons. Findings included that the aircraft came to rest in water and that the ditching followed an uncontrollable fire in engine number 3.