What happened
On June 19, 2016, a Piper Aztec PA 23-250, registration N63ZZ, crashed into dense vegetation approximately half a mile southeast of South Bimini International Airport. The flight was a test flight following an annual inspection. Shortly after departing from runway 10, the aircraft experienced a failure of the right engine, prompting the pilot to feather the propeller and attempt an immediate return to the airfield.
As the aircraft approached the airport to land on runway 28, the pilot observed another aircraft positioned on the runway preparing for departure. Because the aircraft's radios were non-functional, the pilot was unable to communicate his intentions or coordinate with the other aircraft. To avoid a runway conflict, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver. During this process, the aircraft pitched up into a steep climb and entered a sharp left turn, leading to a stall and subsequent loss of control. The aircraft plummeted into a heavily wooded area, where a post-crash fire destroyed the wreckage. Both occupants sustained fatal injuries.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the BAAID established that the aircraft was undergoing maintenance and did not possess a valid airworthiness certificate at the time of the flight. Investigators found that the aircraft's radios were inoperable, which prevented the pilot from announcing his position or communicating the engine failure to the airport.
Medical examinations of the pilot revealed the presence of Tamsulosin, a medication known to cause side effects such as dizziness or light-headedness. Additionally, the investigation noted that the pilot's medical certificate had expired, and his pilot license had been previously revoked by the FAA. The physical condition of the pilot's heart, which showed an enlarged left ventricle, meant that a sudden cardiac event could not be entirely ruled out as a factor.