# NTSB MIA02LA119: Cessna 208B, N786DM, Isla De Vieques, PR, June 20, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2002, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Isla De Vieques, PR - Coordinates: 18.220989, -66.589118 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.2210&lon=-66.5891&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 16 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 18, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55049 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55049/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55049 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA119 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the failure of both pilots to see and avoid, also causal was the failure of the pilot of the Britten-Norman Islander (N663VL) to yield right of way to an aircraft in the traffic pattern. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) the failure of both pilots to see and avoid, also causal was the failure of the pilot of the Britten-Norman Islander (N663VL) to yield right of way to an aircraft in the traffic pattern. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - not obtained/maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not obtained/maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) See brief narrative for MIA02lA119A. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) According to both pilots, they had reported their positions on the Unicom frequency, and announced their intentions. The Cessna pilot said that he entered traffic on the downwind at 1,000 feet, and turned base to final. The Britten-Norman pilot said he turned left from base leg to final approach, but did not mention anything about a downwind leg. At 500 feet, both airplanes touched wing tips; the Cessna's damage was to the right wing and the Britten-Norman's damage was to the left wing. The Britten-Norman's pilot continued the approach and landed without further incident on runway 9. The Cessna's pilot initiated a go-around, for another approach, and landed without further incident on runway 9. The reported weather at San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, 34 miles northwest of the crash site, at 1656 was: 2,700 few, visibility 10 sm, winds 070 at 14 knots with gusts to 19 knots, temperature 84 degrees F, dew point 73 degrees F, and the altimeter was 30.01 inches Hg. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See narrative for MIA02lA119A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On June 20, 2002, about 1620 eastern standard time, a Cessna 208B, N786DM, registered to and operated by Isla Nena Air Service Inc., had a midair collision with a Britten-Norman BN-2B-26, N663VL, registered to and operated by Vieques Air Link Inc., while on final approach to runway 9, at the Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport (VQS), Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and company VFR flight plans were filed for the 14 CFR Part 135 on-demand air taxi flights. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The commercial-rated pilots from both airplanes reported no injuries. Nine passengers on board N786DM, and five passengers onboard N663VL, reported no injuries. Both airplanes landed without further damage. The Cessna had departed from Culebra, Puerto Rico, at 1610. The Britten-Norman had departed from Fajardo, Puerto Rico, at 1600. According to both pilots, they had reported their positions on the UNICOM frequency, and announced their intentions. The Cessna pilot said that he entered traffic on the downwind at 1,000 feet, on a 45 degree angle, and turned base to final. He said he made radio calls announcing his intentions on UNICOM, 12 miles northeast of the airport, and at 9 miles northeast of the airport. He heard "no reply," entered downwind at 1,000 feet, then turned base leg to final. After turning final he said he "still heard no reply," on the radio, and at about 500 feet he "felt a bump." He then called out on the radio, "…what [the] hell is going on," and initiated a go around. According to the pilot of N786DM it was after the collision when "…the other aircraft established communication. He called out short final. I looked down and saw the other aircraft. He replied talking to the helicopter." The pilot of N786DM said he called go-around to land runway 9, upwind to crosswind leg, and then the helicopter reported to him that his "wingtip was missing." He had one of his passengers verify that the landing gear were all right and landed on runway 9 without further incident. The Britten-Norman (N663VL) pilot said he turned left from base leg to final approach, but did not mention anything about a downwind leg. He said he contacted VQS UNICOM on 123.00 about 9 miles northwest of the airport. According to the pilot of N663VL "…nobody on the frequency responded except for [a] helicopter transitioning to Vieques." The helicopter pilot told him that he was at 500 feet heading to a resort landing site next to VQS airport. The pilot of N663VL told the helicopter pilot he had him in site, and reported his altitude as 1,000 feet. The pilot of N663VL said he was "3 miles northwest" when he transmitted his intentions again, and said that at that time "nobody answered at the UNICOM, and...I entered on left base." He did a third radio call and "nobody responded." He then turned onto final leg, he transmitted again, no one answered, and a "few" seconds after that a voice at the UNICOM in Spanish said "...traffic on final," and he replied "Vieques 663 final for runway 9 Vieques." Within 5 to 10 second the pilot of N663VL said he "felt the impact on my left wing...[and he] saw a Cessna Caravan (N786DM) on my left side." He said he "lost" control of the aircraft for a few seconds, regained control and landed without further incident. Both airplanes touched wing tips; the Cessna's damage was to the right wing and the Britten-Norman's damage was to the left wing. The reported weather at San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, 34 miles northwest of the crash site, at 1656 was; 2,700 few, visibility 10 sm, winds 070 at 14 knots with gusts to 19 knots, temperature 84 degrees F, dew point 73 degrees F, and the altimeter was 30.01 inches Hg. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N786DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N786DM-2012-05-22), registration cancelled 2012-05-22, S/N 208B0922, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B-0922 - Airframe hours: 550.1 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Isla Nena Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 1, 2002, 53.5 hours before - Departed: TJCP, Culebra, PR - Destination: VQS, Vieques - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: VQS, Antonio Rivera Rodriquez, runway 090, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N663VL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N663VL), registered now, S/N 2110 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 - Registry model: [Britten-Norman BN-2B-26](https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2b-26) (registry code 1520350) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2110 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: Vieques Air Link Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: X95, FAJARDO, PR - Destination: VQS, Isla De Vieques, PR - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: VQS, Antonio Rivera Rodriquez, runway 090, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N786DM; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 3, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,158 total, 2,336 as pilot in command, 233 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N663VL; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 1,681 total, 803 in this make and model, 1,313 as pilot in command, 223 in the last 90 days, 76 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 14 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KSJU, 34 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020620014319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020620014319A), Jun 20, 2002: Cessna 208B, Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, No damage. (-23) On June 20, 2002, around 1620 (LCL) two aircraft experienced a midair collision while on approach at the antonio rivera rodriquez airport, Isla De… - [Accident 20020620014299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020620014299A), Jun 20, 2002: Bnorm BN2B26, Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, No damage. (-23) On June 20, 2002, around 1620 (LCL) two aircraft experienced a midair collision while on approach at the antonio rivera rodriguez airport, Isla De… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55049. 1.8 MB in all. - Supplement S (item 1, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172245&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S-Master.PDF - Supplement S [LA119B] (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20S%20%5BLA119B%5D-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 [LA119A] (item 3, .PDF, 343 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447786&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20%5BLA119A%5D-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 [LA119B] (item 4, .PDF, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20%5BLA119B%5D-Master.PDF - Photo 1. (item 5, .PDF, 199 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172249&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. (item 6, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172250&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. (item 7, .PDF, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. (item 8, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. (item 9, .PDF, 141 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40172253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.