News - Bad day with a new KA

[Corporate Pilot]

A new Hawker Beechcraft King Air C90GTx delivered on Monday was ditched into the Atlantic Ocean some 17 miles north of Oranjestad, Aruba, the following day during the ferry flight to Brazil. An NTSB spokesman told AIN that the two Brazilian nationals flying the twin turboprop were unharmed in the ditching and subsequent rescue by the Dutch navy. The pilots declared an emergency after both engines lost power, said the NTSB, which is investigating the accident. The King Air sank in 4,000 feet of water.

More info



Date: 03-APR-2012
Time: 09:30 LT
Type: Beechcraft C90GTx King Air
Operator: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee
Registration: N8116L
C/n / msn: LJ-2042
Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Substantial
Location: Caribbean Sea, about 20 miles northeast of Oranjestad -

Aruba
Phase: En route
Nature: Private
Departure airport: KFXE
Destination airport: TNCC
Narrative:
A Beechcraft C90GTx King Air, (brand new aircraft, FAA Certificate Issue Date 02 April 2012 !!) enroute from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport - KFXE, Florida, USA to Hato-Curacao International Airport - TNCC, Willemstad, Curacao, reported an emergency due to fuel starvation and tried to reach Queen Beatrix International Airport - TNCA, Oranjestad, Aruba, but didn't made it and ditched into Caribbean Sea, about 20 miles northeast of Oranjestad, Aruba. The damage was relative minor, but the aircraft later sank to the bottom of the sea.

Both occupants were rescued and hoisted by Westland SH-14D Lynx 261 of the Dutch Defense Helicopter Command's 860 Sqn. and taken to its stationship "Hr. Ms. Amsterdam" for a medical checkup.

Note:
A brand new aircraft, FAA Certificate Issue Date 02 april 2012 (!), on a delivery flight to Brazil and registration PR-MGP was reserved for it.

 

[BobDDuck]

It's not like there aren't about a million and one airports to gas up at along that route of flight.

 

[Gonzo]

There is a ton of airports depending on the route. In fact you are never more then 100 miles from a airport if you take the long way down.

 

[Itchy]

Well, they're safe, and Beech needs the business. Thanks insurance company!

 

[frog_flyer]

They may not be able to fly planes or competently compute max range/endurance/fuel burn, but at least they still have their Brazilian Fart Porn.

 

[CFI A&P]

Someone just told me about this today. He was in the vicinity and on frequency, heard it all go down. Whoops.

 

[Inverted]

Its so weird and unusual when both engines lose power. I have no idea what would cause that...

 

[Fly_Unity]

Its so weird and unusual when both engines lose power. I have no idea what would cause that...

The article said fuel starvation...

 

[derg]

Ahh, gotta follow those HOWGOZIT reports!

 

[JLF]

Two kinds of pilots out there. Those that have put a king air into the drink, and those that will.

 

[dasleben]

Lots of stupid, stupid crap goes on in the Caribbean, and it's all unnecessary.

 

[scooter2525]

Its so weird and unusual when both engines lose power. I have no idea what would cause that...

Raising the flaps in the flare.

 

[Okie_Pilot]

Its so weird and unusual when both engines lose power. I have no idea what would cause that...

Over squaring a turboprop.

 

[N519AT]

Over squaring a turboprop.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Adler]

 

[BobDDuck]

Lots of stupid, stupid crap goes on in the Caribbean, and it's all unnecessary.

I put in my 6th months flying down there and decided to get out before it killed me.

 

[dasleben]

I put in my 6th months flying down there and decided to get out before it killed me.

Same here. I'd at least try to be responsible and file IFR if it was marginal, only to find that there were any number of VFR aircraft up with me in IMC.

 

[Inverted]

Over squaring a turboprop.

Last time I accidentally over squared a turboprop my fiancé got pregnant and and my car exploded.

 

[derg]

Ironically, it looks like a pleasant afternoon.

 

[scooter2525]

As a c90 driver, that looks... Interesting.