N17UF Lear 35A hits crane on approach Freeport Nov 9 2014

[bizjets101]

N17UF Learjet 35A of Diplomatic Air (Bahamas) reportedly hit a crane passing over a shipyard on final into Freeport - killing all 9 on board.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N17UF

[bizjets101]

Hearing the crane the Lear hit is 4 miles from the airfield - Lear reportedly exploded when it collided with crane.

Rather than post the photo - passengers and crew pose with N17UF prior to boarding - incredibly sad to think 24 hours ago these people were excited about their flight - and now are all gone ...

https://twitter.com/bizjet101/status/53 ... 68/photo/1

[bizjets101]

From a previous event earlier this year ...

ACN: 1140592

Synopsis:

A flight crew on the MYGF VOR Y 06 approach took evasive action from a crane extended to around 600 FT, 3.2 miles from the approach end and were told after landing that the TRACON Controller should have notified them and further that only visual approaches were conducted during the crane's presence.

MVFR conditions prevailed with cloud bases reported at 2,800 FT. After passing VALRY, the pilot flying initiated a descent to 700 FT MSL while established inbound on the 069 final approach course. At approximately 3.7 DME, the pilot not flying alerted the pilot flying of a crane existing on the final approach course to Runway 06. The pilot flying stopped the aircraft's descent and maneuvered right of the final approach course in order to avoid the unreported crane.

Given that MVFR conditions prevailed, the crew proceeded to execute a visual approach to Runway 06 and landed without further incident. The crane was resting on-top of a ship that was docked at the harbor southwest of the airfield on the final approach to Runway 06.

The pilots stated that the NOTAM referencing the three cranes, with Crane 8 disabled boom up, is not the same crane that the crew avoided.
The crane in place that day restricts approaches to VMC only, visual approaches. Also TRACON controllers are required to notify the crew about it´s presence. Neither of those conditions were met. The Tower Controller informed them of the restrictive conditions after landing.

If IMC conditions prevailed, the unreported crane would have posed a serious threat to the safety of the flight given that it existed exactly at the 3.2 DME/ 620FT step down fix. A NOTAM should be issued for this obstruction and its location should be passed along to aircrews conducting approaches to Runway 06. In addition, the VOR Y Runway 06 approach should not be utilized during this crane's presence.

Narrative: 1 (Pilot flying):

An unreported, unlit crane approximately 600-700 FT AGL existed at 3.2 DME on the final approach course to the VOR Y Runway 06 at MYGF.
The MYGF NOTAMs for MYGF did not contain temporary obstructions nor did they include amendments to the VOR Y Runway 06 IAP. On initial contact with MYGF Approach, the Approach Controller did not alert our crew of the temporary obstruction. Prior to the VALRY FAF, the Approach Controller cleared our crew for the VOR Y Runway 06 approach.

Narrative: 2 (pilot monitoring):

We were not cleared for the visual or told of the hazard on our approach path. The pilot flying was watching instruments. If the flight was in IMC conditions I believe fatalities would have resulted from impact with the shipyard crane.

Date : 2014-01
MYGF Airport
Flight Conditions : Marginal
Light : Daylight
Make Model Name : Light Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Crew Size.Number Of Crew : 2
Operating Under FAR Part : Part 121
Flight Plan : IFR
Nav In Use.VOR / VORTAC : ZFP
Flight Phase : Final Approach

Anomaly.Inflight Event / Encounter : CFTT / CFIT
Detector.Person : Flight Crew

Miss Distance.Horizontal : 1000
Miss Distance.Vertical : 200
When Detected : In-flight
Result.Flight Crew : Became Reoriented
Result.Flight Crew : Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Result.Flight Crew : Took Evasive Action

[55+]

If the above narrative is correct the design 1:7 rule could have been possible to eliminate the obstacle (crane) from consideration in the final approach design trapezoid. Throwing outa notam and saying it’s there isn’t gonna do much good if there is a penetration to the final approach surface on an Instrument Approach procedure. Then again I do not know the whole story – very interesting to say the least.

[bizjets101]

Preliminary Report; http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/uploads ... Report.pdf

Aircraft had a missed approach, climbed to 2000' holding, when weather cleared they made a 2nd landing attempt - while visually looking for the runway - they collided with a crane - shearing off the outer part of the starboard wing.

[Pratt X 3]

Airport Proximity: 354 degrees
Distance From Landing Facility: 1.9 MILES Approx.
Distance from Airport: 1.9 MILES Approx.
While attempting to find the runway visually during the second approach, the aircraft descended and subsequently struck a towering crane at the Grand Bahama Shipyard. The impact occurred with two support beams above the crane operator’s cab approximately 115 feet mean sea level (MSL).