# NTSB DCA90MA010: Britten-Norman BN-2, N127JL, Block Island, RI, November 28, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: November 28, 1989, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place: Block Island, RI
- Location: 41.1918° N, 71.5745° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Block Island, RI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1918&lon=-71.5745&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 8 fatal
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15931
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA90MA010
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15931/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA90MA010

## Probable cause

THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON, DURING AN OVERWATER FLIGHT ON A DARK (MOONLESS) NIGHT UNDER A CLOUD LAYER. A SIGMET WAS IN EFFECT WARNING OF MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY SEVERE TURBULENCE BELOW 6000 FEET AND THE POTENTIAL OF LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - light condition - dark night
  - weather condition - turbulence
  - terrain condition - water

## Analysis

ON DARK (MOONLESS) NGT, NONSCHED/DOMESTIC/PSGR FLT DEPD BLOCK ISLAND FOR WESTERLY, RI, WITH 7 PAX & 2 DOGS. IT CRASHED ALONG RTE IN BLOCK ISLAND SOUND, 3 TO 5 MI NW OF ISLAND (AN AREA LACKING VIS REF ON SFC). LTR, MAIN WRECKAGE WAS FND IN 130' OF WTR. ADNL WRECKAGE & BODIES OF PLT, 3 PAX & 2 DOGS WERE FND. ACFT WAS BADLY DMGD DRG IMPACT (L WING SEPD OTBD OF L ENG, EXTSV DMG TO FWD PART OF ACFT), BUT NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS FND. COML/INST RATED PLT WAS PART TIME EMPLOYEE. HE WAS ON MEDICATION FOR LYME DISEASE, BUT NO PHYSIOLOGICAL PRBLM WAS FND THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACDNT. AT APRX 1720 EST, THERE WAS A PIREP OF A BKN CLD LAYER AT 10,000'. ANOTHER PLT, WHO WAS FLYING AT ABT THE SAME TIME, RPRTD SCT CLDS ABV 10,000', OVR 10 MI VIS, WND WESTERLY AT 15 TO 25 MPH & LGT TO MOD TURBC. SIGMET (GOLF 4) WARNED OF MOD OCNL SEV TURBC BLO 6000' & POTENTIAL OF LOW LVL WND SHEAR. ACDNT OCCURRED ALONG BIRD MIGRATORY RTE. THERE HAD BEEN NO RECENT FAA INSPN OF BASE, RAMP, COCKPIT (EN RTE CHECK), GND/FLT TRNG PROGRAM, CREW/DISPATCH/TRIP RECORD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N127JL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N127JL-1994-03-16), registration cancelled 1994-03-16, S/N 69 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Britten-Norman BN-2
- Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN-2A](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2a) (registry code 1520204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 69
- Engines: LYCOMING O-540-E4C5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: New England Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 29, 1989
- Departed: BID, BLOCK ISLAND, RI
- Destination: WST, WESTERLY, RI
- Flight plan: Company VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,800 total, 24 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BID, 5 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19891128049709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891128049709A), Nov 28, 1989: Bnorm BN2A, Block Island, RI, Destroyed, 8 fatal. Crashed over water on night flight. SIGMET for severe turbulence. Bodies and wreckadge found.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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