What happened
During an attempt to land at Freeport International Airport (MYGF) in the Bahamas, an aircraft collided with a large crane located at Dock #2 of the Grand Bahama Shipyard. The flight was performing a second ILS approach to Runway 06 after an initial approach was aborted due to heavy rain and low visibility. After executing a go-around, the crew entered a holding pattern at 2,000 feet to wait for better weather conditions.
As the crew proceeded with the second approach, they maintained contact with air traffic control, providing periodic position reports because the area was not under radar surveillance. Despite being informed that weather conditions were worsening, the crew continued the descent visually to locate the runway. At an altitude of approximately 220 feet, the aircraft struck the shipyard crane. The impact caused the right wingtip fuel tank, the right landing gear, and the right outboard wing to detach from the airframe.
Following the collision, the aircraft traveled roughly 1,578 feet in an uncontrolled descent, eventually flipping upside down before impacting a pile of debris at the City Services Garbage and Metal Recycling Plant. The collision resulted in 8 fatalities, including the crew and seven passengers. While the crane sustained minor damage, the recycling plant's generator and various equipment suffered significant destruction. No individuals on the ground were harmed.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in an environment with deteriorating visibility and heavy rain.
- The collision occurred while the crew was attempting a visual descent to locate the runway threshold.