Investigation Summary
The aircraft had been parked at Puerto Plata for 20 to 25 days prior to the flight. During this time, the pitot tubes—critical sensors for measuring airspeed—were left uncovered. Investigators concluded that a species of mud dauber wasp likely built a nest inside the captain's pitot tube. During the takeoff roll, the captain noticed his airspeed indicator was not functioning correctly, but he chose to continue the takeoff. As the plane climbed, the trapped air in the blocked tube expanded, causing the captain's indicator to show a dangerously high airspeed. This triggered an overspeed warning. Simultaneously, the aircraft's actual speed was decreasing, leading to a stick-shaker stall warning. The crew, overwhelmed by the contradictory alerts, failed to recognize the stall and reduced power, causing the aircraft to drop into the ocean.
Final Conclusions
The primary cause was the flight crew's failure to recognize the activation of the stick shaker as a warning of an imminent stall and their failure to execute the proper recovery procedures. Contributing factors included the blockage of the captain's pitot tube by a wasp nest and the captain's decision to continue the takeoff despite noticing an airspeed discrepancy during the early stages of the roll.
Video Analysis
NO ONE Was Ready for THIS! What Really Happened To Birgenair Flight 301 — As if in a nightmare, the pilots of Birgenair flight 301 were trying to control their aircraft but it just would not do what they asked of it. Unfortunately, the events that subsequently unfolded were very real and the story of HOW this flight went so badly wrong is shocking to this day.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Pitot-Static System
The system of pressure-sensitive instruments used to determine airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed.
Stick Shaker
A mechanical device that rapidly vibrates the control yoke to warn the pilot that the aircraft is nearing a stall.
Air Data Computer (ADC)
Processes pitot and static pressure to provide flight data; the 757 has two, which were receiving different inputs.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft had been stationary for 25 days without pitot tube covers installed.
- 02The captain had over 24,000 flight hours, but the crew suffered from severe spatial disorientation and confusion.
- 03The blockage was attributed to the Sceliphron caementarium (mud dauber wasp) common in the Dominican Republic.
- 04The crash remains the deadliest aviation accident in the Dominican Republic.
- 05The first officer's airspeed indicator was functioning correctly throughout the flight.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Enhanced Pilot Training
Source ↗Airlines implemented more rigorous Crew Resource Management (CRM) training focusing on handling conflicting instrument readings and 'unreliable airspeed' procedures.
Maintenance Procedures
Strict mandates were reinforced regarding the use of pitot tube covers whenever an aircraft is parked, regardless of the expected duration.