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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

March 15, 2012 · Convair 440 - NO Series NO Series · N153JR

San Juan, PR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 15, 2012
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Location
San Juan, PR
Aircraft
Convair 440 - NO Series NO Series
Tail Number
N153JR
Operator
Fresh Air
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA12FA051

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-14/04 On March 15, 2012, about 0740 Atlantic standard time, a Convair CV-440-38, N153JR, operated by Fresh Air, Inc., crashed into a lagoon about 1 mile east of the departure end of runway 10 at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two pilots died, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1251 as a cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight had departed from runway 10 at SJU destined for Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten. Shortly after takeoff, the first officer declared an emergency, and then the captain requested a left turn back to SJU and asked the local air traffic controllers if they could see smoke coming from the airplane (the two tower controllers noted in postaccident interviews that they did not see more smoke than usual coming from the airplane). The controllers cleared the flight to land on runway 28, but as the airplane began to align with the runway, it crashed into a nearby lagoon (Laguna La Torrecilla).

NTSB Probable Cause

the flight crew's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after shutting down the right engine due to an in-flight fire in one of the right augmentors. The failure to maintain airspeed resulted in either an aerodynamic stall or a loss of directional control.

Full Narrative

The Safety Board's full report is available at http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Pages/aviation.aspx. The Aircraft Accident Report number is NTSB/AAR-14/04 On March 15, 2012, about 0740 Atlantic standard time, a Convair CV-440-38, N153JR, operated by Fresh Air, Inc., crashed into a lagoon about 1 mile east of the departure end of runway 10 at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), San Juan, Puerto Rico. The two pilots died, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1251 as a cargo flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The flight had departed from runway 10 at SJU destined for Princess Juliana International Airport, St. Maarten. Shortly after takeoff, the first officer declared an emergency, and then the captain requested a left turn back to SJU and asked the local air traffic controllers if they could see smoke coming from the airplane (the two tower controllers noted in postaccident interviews that they did not see more smoke than usual coming from the airplane). The controllers cleared the flight to land on runway 28, but as the airplane began to align with the runway, it crashed into a nearby lagoon (Laguna La Torrecilla).

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:38 AST
Nearest AirportLuis Munoz Marin Intl (2nm E)
Runway28
Runway Length8016 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledVFR
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftConvair 440 - NO Series NO Series
Tail NumberN153JR
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFresh Air
Operating RulePart 125
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney · R-2800-52W · Reciprocating | Pratt & Whitney · R-2800-103W · Reciprocating

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 fatalities)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 65 · Second Class · Fatal
Crew 2Age 44 · Second Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind120° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.09 inHg
Observation Time11:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data