What happened
On the evening of the accident, the Douglas DC-3 registered as N75KW began its departure from West Palm Beach at 19:40. During the initial takeoff roll, the crew aborted the procedure after observing a loss of airspeed indications. Upon returning to the ramp, it was discovered that both pitot tubes were likely obstructed by a mud dauber's nest. After testing the airspeed indicator and confirming it was functional, the aircraft departed from runway 09L at 20:35.
The flight was instructed to climb to 5,000 feet and intercept Bahama Route 63V. Later, Miami Center provided clearance for an approach into Freeport, instructing the crew to cross the Halbi intersection at 4,000 feet. At approximately 20:57, Freeport approach control authorized a descent to 1,400 feet for a VOR approach to runway 24. This communication marked the final contact with the aircraft.
The plane subsequently impacted the ocean. The flight was operating in conditions characterized by low visibility, low ceilings, moderate turbulence, and active thunderstorms at the time of the crash. There were 0 survivors recorded from this accident.
Findings
While investigators could not definitively establish a single cause for the crash, several contributing elements were identified. The aircraft was flying into known areas of thunderstorm activity and turbulence. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the reliability of flight instruments due to previous discrepancies in the pitot/static system. Finally, the investigation noted a lack of operational control by the airline's management.