What happened
While performing the initial climb phase from Treasure Cay Airport, the aircraft suffered a loss of power in one of its engines. This mechanical failure prevented the flight crew from maintaining a positive rate of climb. During the struggle to stay airborne, the aircraft made contact with trees near the runway, which caused a further reduction in altitude.
Faced with the inability to continue the flight, the pilot executed an emergency ditching into the ocean. The landing occurred in the sea at a location situated less than two kilometers northeast of the airfield. While the aircraft was destroyed in the incident, the pilot sustained slight injuries during the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the crash. The primary issue was a complete engine failure occurring during the critical climb-out period. Additionally, the investigation noted that the crew did not adhere to approved operational procedures and failed to implement proper emergency protocols following the loss of power. The impact with trees near the airport further complicated the aircraft's flight path prior to the water landing.