Investigation Summary
The flight was a short inter-island hop from Saint Lucia to Saint Vincent. Upon arrival at Arnos Vale (now E. T. Joshua Airport), the crew faced challenging meteorological conditions characterized by heavy rain and thick fog. The airport's location, situated between mountainous terrain and the sea, necessitated precise navigation. Witnesses in the nearby Cane Garden area reported hearing the aircraft circling and noted the sound of a sputtering engine. Reports conflict regarding the exact sequence of events; while some sources state the aircraft disappeared during a third landing attempt after two misses, others indicate it was lost during the second attempt. While most official records and the St. Vincent Times cite the accident date as August 3, 1986, some reports (including sections of Wikipedia) mention August 4, likely due to the late-night timing of the operation or the start of the search. During the final approach, the plane lost radio contact. The search area was complicated by the extreme depth of the Caribbean Sea in that region, with estimates ranging from 1,000 feet to 6,000 feet (300m to 1,800m). The loss was a significant national tragedy for Saint Vincent, as the victims included the former Deputy Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Hudson Tannis, his family, and Miss St. Vincent 1984, Donna Young.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the aircraft likely crashed into the sea due to poor visibility and severe weather conditions during multiple landing attempts. Because the wreckage was never located in the deep waters, a definitive mechanical or operational cause could not be established. The government officially declared the flight lost and all occupants deceased on August 8, 1986.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27
The aircraft was powered by two of these turboprop engines; witnesses reported hearing 'sputtering' sounds before the disappearance.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 310 with manufacturer serial number (MSN) 785.
- 02The wreckage is believed to be at a depth ranging from 1,000 feet to 6,000 feet (300 to 1,800 meters) depending on the source.
- 03No bodies or major aircraft components were ever recovered, only sightings of floating oil were reported.
- 04The victims included prominent Vincentian figures, including former Deputy Prime Minister Hudson Tannis, his wife and son, and Miss St. Vincent 1984 Donna Young.
- 05The search effort included a helicopter from Trinidad and Tobago and an aircraft from the United States, alongside coast guard vessels from Barbados and Venezuela.
- 06The 11 passengers included seven Vincentians, two Italians, two Americans, and one Canadian; the 2 crew members were from Guyana and Jamaica.