Synopsis
On Saturday, 5 March 2011, a Beechcraft Super King Air B200, registration YV196T, operated by Vuecorp, landed at Union Island (TVSU) instead of its planned destination, Canouan Island (TVSC). The aircraft was on a private IFR flight from Maiquetia, Venezuela, with two pilots and six passengers. No injuries were reported, and all occupants were safely removed from the aircraft.
Flight History
The flight departed Margarita, Venezuela, and initially contacted air traffic control (ATC) using call sign YV196T. However, ATC consistently used the incorrect call sign YV192T. The aircraft was cleared for a visual approach to Canouan. The pilot requested Runway 31, despite a wind of 070 degrees, which favored Runway 13. After receiving landing clearance, the aircraft did not appear at Canouan. At 1456 UTC, ATC was informed that an aircraft had crash-landed at Union Island.
The pilot reported that the Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) was unserviceable, so they navigated using GPS and visual references. Mistaking Union Island for Canouan, the pilot decided to land from the east due to high terrain to the west. The runway at Union Island (Runway 26) has a landing distance available of 2,926 feet.
Investigation
The aircraft exited the runway and came to a stop at the south perimeter fence, approximately 150 feet from the western end of Runway 26. Damage included the propellers, nose cone, nose undercarriage, and left wing; the fence was also destroyed. There were no injuries to the two pilots or six passengers.
The investigation revealed that the captain, aged 60, held a Venezuelan Airline Transport Pilots Licence with a BE-20 type rating but did not have an endorsement for English Language Proficiency. The co-pilot, aged 38, held a Level 4 English proficiency endorsement. The incorrect call sign (YV192T used by ATC) was not considered a contributing factor.
Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the lack of English language proficiency by the crew, particularly the captain, was a significant contributing factor and major contributor to the accident. The pilot's inability to effectively communicate and confirm the intended destination led to landing at the wrong airport. Additionally, the captain did not observe the runway numbers until short final and decided to land despite the possibility of a go-around, which the investigation determined was feasible.
Probable Cause
The lack of English language proficiency by the crew, particularly the captain, was a significant contributing factor and major contributor to the accident.
Safety Recommendations
The report recommended that controllers be more vigilant when pilots make unusual requests, especially when language proficiency may be a concern. No further recommendations were explicitly stated in the source.