Description

On 24 March 2001, a De Havilland DE HAVILLAND CANADA DHC-6, operated by Caraïbes Air Transport, lost control during a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) approach to Saint Barthelemy airport in the French Antilles. On short final the aircraft took a sharp left turn which resulted in impact with the terrain.

Synopsis

This is an extract from the official Report on the accident published by the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA):

"When the aircraft began its short final before the La Tourmente pass, several people, including the AFIS [Aerodrome Flight Information Service] agent, saw it turn left with a steep bank angle then dive towards the ground. It crashed near a house and caught fire. All of the occupants perished, along with one person who was in the house."

Further in the Aerodrome information section 1.10, the Report provides details on the specific topography of the area surrounding the airport. Due a mountainous ridge to the west of the airport the authorities had restricted the use of runway 28 and the majority of landings are performed on runway 10. When landing on runway 10, the aircraft passes at a very low height from an elevated ground, often lower than 10 metres from the terrain.

“The aerodrome is classified as category D and authorized for restricted use […]. This regulation specifies that the aerodrome is reserved for aircraft with appropriate characteristics and performance and to pilots whose competence has been recognized by an accredited flight instructor.