What happened
On May 24, 2006, at approximately 0444Z, the crew of N475AT, a Westwind Jet (WW-1124), notified Miami Centre of a technical issue involving a generator malfunction. The aircraft was operating a flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Norfolk, Virginia, when the failure occurred. To reach the closest available airfield, Miami Air Traffic Control directed the aircraft toward Exuma International Airport in the Bahamas.
During the approach, air traffic controllers in Nassau attempted to coordinate with airport authorities to ensure the runway lighting was activated. However, at 0454Z, communication with the aircraft was lost. The aircraft proceeded with an emergency landing without further instructions from Miami ATC. Upon touchdown, the aircraft overran the runway, coming to a stop roughly 800 feet past the end of runway 30 and about 300 feet to the right of the runway centerline.
As the aircraft exited the paved surface, the landing gear was sheared off. The plane moved into a clearing and entered dense vegetation. The right wing struck a mound of earth, which triggered an uncontrollable spin. The wreckage eventually settled on an easterly heading at a 30-degree tilt. All occupants were successfully evacuated from the debris and sustained minor injuries while navigating through the thick brush.
Findings
- The aircraft was experiencing a generator failure prior to the landing.
- The landing gear was destroyed due to the force of the runway excursion.
- The aircraft's rotation and final position were caused by the right wing impacting a dirt mound.