Investigation Summary
The accident involved a complex interaction between two aircraft under different flight rules. Air Caribbean Flight 309 was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) but experienced an inoperative radio frequency for San Juan approach. Consequently, the pilot used a telephone from the aircraft to communicate with local air controllers. Simultaneously, Eastern Air Lines Flight 75, a heavy L-1011 TriStar, was approaching under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). Air traffic controllers attempted to sequence the two aircraft, eventually instructing the Beechcraft to turn southeast to allow the faster L-1011 to overtake it. During this maneuver, the Beechcraft pilot reported losing sight of the jet. The L-1011 passed so close that a jump-seat occupant on the jet could see the silhouettes of the Beechcraft's passengers. The resulting wake turbulence from the TriStar's wingtip vortices caused the pilot of the Beechcraft to lose control at an altitude of less than 1,000 feet, leaving no room for recovery before the aircraft struck a building.
Final Conclusions
The crash was caused by the Beechcraft D18S encountering wake turbulence generated by a preceding Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. Contributing factors included the close proximity of the two aircraft during the approach phase and the Air Caribbean pilot's loss of visual contact with the larger jet. Following the accident, a class-action lawsuit resulted in a $5,690,000 settlement, with Eastern Air Lines and the FAA admitting liability for the circumstances leading to the encounter.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Crew Experience
Captain
Jerry Cannon
Systems & Failure Modes
Wake Turbulence
Vortices forming behind the wingtips of heavy aircraft like the L-1011 can cause smaller aircraft to experience sudden, uncontrollable rolling moments.
Communications
The Beechcraft suffered a radio failure on the approach frequency, complicating coordination with air traffic control during the critical arrival phase.
Interesting Facts
- 01The accident occurred just one day after the mid-air collision of PSA Flight 182 in San Diego.
- 02The Beechcraft D18S was owned by Francisco Cruz and leased to Air Caribbean.
- 03The aircraft's approach frequency was inoperative, requiring the pilot to use a telephone to contact controllers.
- 04All six occupants (one pilot and five passengers) were killed instantly upon impact.
- 05Eastern Air Lines Flight 75 landed safely at Isla Verde International Airport with no injuries.
- 06The aircraft was manufactured in 1948 and carried Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) A-415.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Wake Turbulence Separation Standards
The accident reinforced the necessity for strict adherence to vertical and temporal separation standards between 'Heavy' category aircraft and light aircraft during approach, particularly when visual contact is lost by the smaller aircraft.