What happened
On June 13, 2013, a SAAB 340B, registration C6-SBJ, was performing a scheduled flight from Fort Lauderdale International Airport to Marsh Harbor International Airport in the Bahamas. While approaching runway 09 under instrument meteorological conditions, the crew encountered heavy rain showers and reduced visibility.
As the aircraft crossed the runway threshold, the crew reduced power. The aircraft initially touched down at 17:49:02 local time, but the impact caused the plane to bounce back into the air. The aircraft underwent a series of three consecutive bounces on the runway. During the final impact, the aircraft sustained significant damage to the right engine, propeller, and right wing. The right engine experienced a rapid loss of power and the propeller subsequently stopped.
Following the hard touchdown, the aircraft veered off the runway to the right, coming to a stop approximately 6,044 feet from the runway threshold. All 21 passengers and the flight crew successfully evacuated the aircraft via the main entrance. There were no injuries reported during the accident or the evacuation process.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed several critical operational failures. The crew failed to follow standard operating procedures and did not utilize crew resource management, resulting in confusion on the flight deck regarding pilot flying responsibilities during the final moments of the flight. Additionally, the crew did not maintain a sterile cockpit, engaging in non-essential conversation from the start of the flight until the landing checklist. The captain continued the approach despite the loss of visibility caused by a failed left-side windshield wiper and heavy rainfall.