Piper Cherokee Six Crashes in South Bimini After Encountering Thunderstorms

Casualties unknown • South Bimini, Bahamas. Altitude 10 ft / 3m, BS

A single-engine aircraft crashed into the waters near South Bimini, Bahamas, following a flight into severe convective weather, resulting in three fatalities.

What happened

On January 17, 2010, a Piper Cherokee Six PA 32-300, registered as N4219R, crashed into the sea approximately two miles northwest of South Bimini Airport. The flight originated from Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, with a planned destination of Ft Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida, USA. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at an altitude of 4,500 feet.

During the flight, the aircraft encountered a cold front and active thunderstorm activity. The aircraft subsequently entered an unusual flight attitude from which the pilot could not recover, leading to a collision with the water in approximately 25 feet of depth. The impact and subsequent submersion destroyed the aircraft. All three occupants on board sustained fatal injuries.

The investigation

The investigation conducted by the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit (AAIPU) examined the flight history, meteorological conditions, and the pilot's qualifications. Investigators confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained and that no mechanical failures or powerplant anomalies contributed to the crash. The investigation also reviewed the weather patterns, noting a widespread cold front and thunderstorm activity that had been affecting the lower Florida area.

Findings

  • The pilot's decision to fly into identified thunderstorm activity was the primary cause of the accident.
  • The pilot failed to recover the aircraft from an unusual flight attitude following the weather encounter.
  • There was a lack of proper training and certification for the pilot to operate in weather conditions less than those required for VFR.
  • The pilot demonstrated poor judgment by failing to land at a nearby airport to wait out the approaching weather.
  • The pilot failed to properly assess or act upon information regarding convective activity, engaging in "scud running" rather than avoiding the storms.
  • The investigation noted that the pilot'ost lack of knowledge regarding the dynamic nature of thunderstorms contributed to the loss of control.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue flight into clearly identified thunderstorm activity led to a loss of control and subsequent impact with the water.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2010-01-17 aircraft accident near South Bimini, Bahamas. Altitude 10 ft / 3m, BS?

A single-engine aircraft crashed into the waters near South Bimini, Bahamas, following a flight into severe convective weather, resulting in three fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2010-01-17 involved a aircraft, registration N4219R, at South Bimini, Bahamas. Altitude 10 ft / 3m, BS.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to continue flight into clearly identified thunderstorm activity led to a loss of control and subsequent impact with the water.

Loading the flight search…