Plane That Killed Ten on Independence Day Hit Trees as It Approached Runway

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Today marks one month since the deadly Independence Day plane crash in Andros that killed all 10 people on board, one of the deadliest accidents in Bahamian aviation history.

The Cessna 402, operated by Flamingo Air and registered as C6-FLX, went down in a heavily wooded area near the San Andros Airport.

Since then, many have been asking: What happened in those final moments?

Over the weekend, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority released its preliminary findings, offering the first detailed account of the flight and the crash.

And here’s what investigators have found so far.

When it comes to the flight itself, the report states the aircraft had completed three flights that day. Two were successful round-trip flights from New Providence to Andros.

The third flight, an outbound flight to Andros that departed around 12:30 p.m., ended fatally. Prior to that final flight, the aircraft had taken on 60 gallons of fuel that day.

At 12:43 p.m., the aircraft made a slight right turn to the northwest, a maneuver the report says was consistent with joining a traffic pattern for Runway 12 on its approach to the San Andros Airport.

Radar data showed the aircraft at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet at that time.

But about three minutes later, at approximately 12:46 p.m., the aircraft made a left turn consistent with following traffic-pattern procedures as it prepared to land at the airport.

At that point, radar data showed the aircraft descending from approximately 1,800 feet on its approach to land at San Andros Airport.

During the final radar data recorded, the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, with an indicated airspeed of 62 knots, at about 12:48 p.m.

During that final approach, the aircraft impacted a stand of tall pine trees in a heavily wooded area, with the aircraft’s left wing making initial contact with the trees.

The report further notes that, after that initial contact, the aircraft’s forward motion continued as it made further contact at the mid and lower levels of a stand of pine trees.

Investigators also found evidence of fire and associated damage to the surrounding environment, including charred tree bark and brown-colored foliage on the tops of trees.

The aircraft’s left-wing navigation light was identified as the furthest piece of debris.

According to the report, the distribution of the debris and the damage pattern are consistent with a low-velocity, low-angle impact.

When it comes to the aircraft itself, the report states that the plane was engulfed in flames after impact, destroying the central portion of the aircraft.

The left engine was damaged by a combination of fire and impact forces, while the left propeller remained attached to the propeller hub, with minimal signs of impact damage to its three blades.

The right engine, however, was extensively damaged by a combination of fire and impact forces.

The right propeller also remained attached to the propeller hub, but showed substantial signs of impact damage to all three blades.

All three right propeller blades were observed to be twisted and bent.

All of this damage can be seen in footage captured by Our News on the ground at the crash site.

The aircraft was piloted by Franklyn Cambridge. According to the report, Cambridge held a commercial pilot certificate issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. He also held airplane single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, with a total of 13,000 hours of flight time.

And finally, when it comes to the aircraft’s equipment, the report notes that the plane was not equipped with either a flight data recorder, or FDR, or a cockpit voice recorder, or CVR.

However, the report notes that neither recorder was required by the relevant aviation regulations.