On November 30, 1981, a Douglas DC-6 (registration N3486F) operated by Guyana Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Castries-George F. L. Charles (Vigie), Saint Lucia during takeoff. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failed during the climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons. 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.
An aircraft crashed and caught fire near the airport after experiencing an engine malfunction shortly after takeoff.
What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure, the flight crew notified air traffic control of an engine failure. In response to the emergency, controllers provided clearance for the aircraft to perform an emergency landing at the departure airfield.
However, during the return maneuver, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane impacted the ground in the vicinity of the airport, resulting in a post-crash fire. The accident resulted in three fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the primary factor was an engine failure occurring during the climbout phase.
Probable cause
The engine failed during the climb after takeoff for undetermined reasons.