What happened
A cargo flight departed Norfolk at 14:13, destined for Guantánamo Bay. The initial portion of the flight proceeded without incident. While descending from FL320, the crew established communication with the Guantánamo radar controller at 16:34. Following instructions to maintain VFR conditions 12 miles from the Cuban coastline, the crew initially requested an approach for runway 28 before reverting to a runway 10 approach. Clearance for the approach was granted at 16:46, with winds recorded at 200 degrees at 7 knots.
As the aircraft type approached the runway from the south, the crew executed a right turn to align with runway 10, increasing the bank angle during the maneuver. At an altitude of approximately 200 to 300 feet above ground level, the aircraft's wings began to rock toward a level position while the nose pitched upward. Subsequently, the right wing experienced a stall, causing the aircraft to roll to a 90-degree bank and the nose to pitch down. The aircraft impacted level terrain approximately 1,400 feet west of the runway threshold and 200 feet north of the extended centerline. There were 0 fatalities reported in the provided text, though the impact occurred during the final approach phase.
Findings
Investigation into the circumstances noted that a strobe light, positioned on a Marine Corps guard tower at the edge of Cuban airspace to mark the runway 10 threshold, was non-functional on the day of the accident. Neither the flight crew nor the radar controller were aware that this visual aid was inoperative. The primary factor in the loss of control was the right wing stalling during the turning maneuver.