What happened
On July 5, 2021, at roughly 3:45 PM EDT, an Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Westwind 1124A, registered as N790JR, crashed shortly after departing from runway 32 at Treasure Cay International Airport in the Bahamas. The aircraft departed with a crew of two, intending to fly toward Nassau. During the takeoff roll, the plane failed to gain sufficient altitude and remained only a few feet above the ground despite being at full power.
The aircraft overran the runway, striking airport lighting equipment and several trees. As it moved through the terrain, it left a trail of debris and fuel before impacting a small mound. The impact caused the airframe to break apart and ignite into a large fire. Because the airport lacked on-site emergency services, fire trucks from the local township were dispatched; however, they could not reach the wreckage due to a lack of access roads. The intense fire continued until it was only partially mitigated by rainfall, ultimately destroying the aircraft.
Findings
Investigators from the AAIA and CAA-B arrived at the scene while parts of the wreckage were still burning. Analysis of the ground scars, damaged lighting, and broken trees indicated that the aircraft failed to climb as required during the takeoff phase. The investigation determined that the crew did not properly configure the aircraft for the takeoff segment and lacked sufficient familiarity with the aircraft's systems.