NTSB Identification: ERA11WA008
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Tuesday, October 05, 2010 in Nassau, Bahamas
Aircraft: CESSNA 402, registration: C6NLH
Injuries: 9 Fatal.
The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On October 5, 2010, about 1236 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, Bahamian registration C6-NLH, registered to and operated by Lebocruise Air Limited, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after takeoff from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the non-U.S., non-commercial flight from MYNN to the San Salvador Airport (MYSM), Cockburn Town, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot, co-pilot, and 7 passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1233, from MYNN.
The pilot was cleared to takeoff from runway 14, and according to the pilot of an airplane who was behind the accident airplane waiting to takeoff, white colored smoke was observed trailing the left engine during takeoff. The tower controller reportedly informed the accident pilot of the smoke and the accident pilot stated to the controller he needed to return to the airport and requested runway 27. While returning to the airport, a pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane in a “hard over” bank to the left followed by the airplane pitching nose down. The airplane crashed into the lake approximately 1,000 feet abeam the approach threshold of runway 32.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas
P.O. Box AP 59244
Nassau, N.P. Bahamas
Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448
Facsimile: (242) 377-6060
This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
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THE ill-fated pilot of the plane that crashed into Lake Killarney was warned about engine deficiencies on his Cessna 402C aircraft but "shrugged it off" hours before he and the eight other people on board crashed to their deaths, an accident report prepared by the Civil Aviation Department said.
14 CFR Non-U.S., Non-Commercial
Accident occurred Tuesday, October 05, 2010 in Nassau, Bahamas
Aircraft: CESSNA 402, registration: C6NLH
Injuries: 9 Fatal.
The foreign authority was the source of this information.
On October 5, 2010, about 1236 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, Bahamian registration C6-NLH, registered to and operated by Lebocruise Air Limited, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after takeoff from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the non-U.S., non-commercial flight from MYNN to the San Salvador Airport (MYSM), Cockburn Town, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot, co-pilot, and 7 passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1233, from MYNN.
The pilot was cleared to takeoff from runway 14, and according to the pilot of an airplane who was behind the accident airplane waiting to takeoff, white colored smoke was observed trailing the left engine during takeoff. The tower controller reportedly informed the accident pilot of the smoke and the accident pilot stated to the controller he needed to return to the airport and requested runway 27. While returning to the airport, a pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane in a “hard over” bank to the left followed by the airplane pitching nose down. The airplane crashed into the lake approximately 1,000 feet abeam the approach threshold of runway 32.
The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:
Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas
P.O. Box AP 59244
Nassau, N.P. Bahamas
Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448
Facsimile: (242) 377-6060
This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
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THE ill-fated pilot of the plane that crashed into Lake Killarney was warned about engine deficiencies on his Cessna 402C aircraft but "shrugged it off" hours before he and the eight other people on board crashed to their deaths, an accident report prepared by the Civil Aviation Department said.
Minutes before the crash pilot Nelson Hanna was also alerted by an air traffic controller that white smoke was trailing from his left engine during take-off, however, he did not declare an emergency nor did he report any engine or mechanical failure to the control room.
The plane's left engine failed, however, Hanna turned off his plane's right engine, which showed no mechanical failures, causing the aircraft to lose its thrust while it was 150 to 300 feet in the air.
The pilot then initiated a steep turn while the plane's landing gear was down as he tried to return to the runway but the plane stalled, pitched nose down and fell into the lake shortly after 12.30 pm on October 5, 2010.
The 90-page report prepared by Delvin Major, an investigator at the Department of Civil Aviation, revealed that Mr Hanna knew of his plane's mechanical problems hours before the crash.
According to the report, Mr Hanna conducted a charter flight from LPIA to Treasure Cay, Abaco at 9.30 am.
A passenger, who sat behind the co-pilot on the Abaco flight, said he noticed "technical problems" with the plane's left engine pressure gauge needle readings before the plane took off from the runway. The unidentified passenger - who is an American pilot - said he was "uneasy" because he had been in a accident on a plane with the "exact type of manifold pressure discrepancy".
He said he told Mr Hanna and his co-pilot, but the men dismissed his concerns.
Said the report: "The passenger reported that he observed the left engine manifold pressure needle not reacting as it should. The passenger stated that he advised both pilots and they both shrugged it off as no big deal and said it will clear up when full power is applied.
"Eventually, the needle indications matched each other and once the pilots were satisfied the aircraft departed."
It was also noted that the plane's navigational instruments - needed for instrument meteorological conditions - were inoperative.
Despite the passenger's misgivings, the pressure reading eventually became normal and the plane was able to take off and later land in Marsh Harbour, not Treasure Cay as originally intended, due to bad weather.
Hanna then flew to Nassau where he accepted a request to fly seven people from LPIA to San Salvador. They were heading to the island for a weekend music festival.
However, a flight plan filed by the pilot listed only one person on board the plane.
The second flight took off at 12.30pm. Eye-witnesses told investigators they saw white smoke trailing behind the left engine before the plane became airborne. Some witnesses said they heard sounds of the engine misfire and saw the smoking intensify upon take-off.
The investigation also revealed that the twin engine plane was 523 pounds over the maximum weight allowed for take-off when it crashed minutes after leaving the runway.
There was no cockpit voice recorder onboard the plane, so investigators had no idea what conversation, if any, took place between the crew during their last moments alive.
However investigators speculated that the harrowing moments before the crash confused Mr Hanna causing him to turn off the wrong engine. The report added that the pilot's decision to return to the runway was likely based on instinct and was not practical in an emergency.
Said the report: "The experienced and competent pilot was confronted with an unenviable emergency at a critical stage of flight. A number of potentially confusing cues may have led to him misidentifying the partial loss of power from the left engine and secured the right engine. His reaction and instinct to return to the runway confounded his instinctive reaction to an emergency situation, which is much practised in training and testing.
"The time for him to make the correct diagnosis and to take corrective action was short. During this time he announced his decision to return to the airport for a landing on runway 27 and initiated a turn to the left. With the left engine problem persisting and the right engine secured and not producing thrust at this time, the reduced thrust of the left engine was insufficient to maintain lift. In a tightening turn, with gears extended, the aircraft stalled, became inverted which resulted in a steep nose dive into the lake."
A toxicology report found Mr Hanna had an over the counter drug, salicyate, in his urine however it could not be determined if this was enough to impair his judgment.
All nine men on board the plane died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries from the crash. They are Clarence Williams, 38; Chet Johnson, 39; Corey Farquharson, 41; Junior Lubin, 23; Devon Storr 27; Chanoine Mildor, 44; Lavard Curtis, 26; Delon Taylor, 28 and Hanna, 43.
A memorial service was held for the victims on the anniversary of the crash.
