West Caribbean Airways Flight 9955
 Wreckage from flight 9955 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 26 March 2005 |
| Summary | Stalled shortly after take-off due to engine flameout |
| Site | |
| Aircraft | |
.jpg) A L-410 Turbolet similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Let L-410UVP-E |
| Operator | West Caribbean Airways |
| IATA flight No. | YH9955 |
| ICAO flight No. | WCW9955 |
| Call sign | WEST CARIBBEAN 9955 |
| Registration | HK-4146 |
| Flight origin | El Embrujo Airport |
| Destination | Gustavo Rojas Pinilla International Airport |
| Occupants | 14 |
| Passengers | 12 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 9 |
| Injuries | 5 |
| Survivors | 5 |
West Caribbean Airways Flight 9955 was a scheduled flight between Isla de Providencia and San Andres Island, Colombia that crashed on 26 March 2005, killing 9 of the 14 passengers and crew on board. It was the first fatal crash in West Caribbean Airways history.
Background
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Let L-410UVP-E built in 1990. At the time of the accident the aircraft was approximately 15 years old and had accumulated 6,901 flight hours.[1]
Crew
The captain, Rodolfo Blanco Martínez, age 42, had a total of 6,038 flying hours, including 145 hours on the Let L-410 type. He had also flown the much smaller Piper PA-34 Seneca.[2]
The copilot, Edwin Dagoberto Giraldo Florez, age 26, had 868 total flying hours, with 653 hours on type.[1][3]
Passengers
According to a statement from West Caribbean Airways, the occupants of the aircraft were:[4]
Fatalities
- José Toro
- Sandra Blanco
- Maritza Murcia
- Patricia Tabares
- Alejandro Charles
- Jacqueline Brenes
- Indira Arellano
- Consuelo Moncano
- Joseph Blombom (initially survived but later died due to injuries)
Survivors
- María Moncano
- Juanita Toro
- Indira Medrano
- Ricardo Pardo
- Angie Smith
Accident
The aircraft, a Let L-410UVP-E, had just taken off from El Embrujo Airport at 9:50. When the plane was in its takeoff roll, the left engine flamed out, but the crew continued the takeoff. When the plane reached approximately 300 feet in height, the speed of the aircraft decreased rapidly, and it banked dangerously too far to the right and stalled. The aircraft crashed into a mangrove forest, located just 113 metres (371 ft) from the airport runway.[5][4]
Both pilots and 7 of the 12 passengers were killed in the crash. One passenger initially survived the crash, but succumbed to their injuries shortly after being rescued. The survivors were taken to Hospital Clarence Lynd Newball Memorial, San Andrés and Bogotá. Providencia Island was experiencing increased activity due to the Christian Holy Week holidays at the time of the accident.[6][7]
Investigation
Aftermath
Aerocivil stated that the sanctions imposed on West Caribbean Airways were unrelated to any deficiencies in the airline's operational safety, noting that the airline met the safety standards required by the Colombian aviation authority and was therefore permitted to continue operating.[8]
See also
References
- 1 2 "West Caribbean Airways | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives". www.baaa-acro.com. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- ↑ "Eight killed as West Caribbean Airways flight crashes". Airline Industry Information. March 28, 2005. ProQuest 210530575.
- ↑ "Accidente aéreo: ocho muertos en isla caribeña". Infobae (in Spanish). 26 March 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2025.
- 1 2 "Accidente aéreo en Providencia deja ocho muertos". Caracol Radio (in Spanish). 26 March 2005. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Let L-410UVP-E HK-4146 Providencia-El Embrujo Airport (PVA)". aviation-safety.net. Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2018-10-05.
- ↑ "Eight dead in Caribbean plane crash". ABC News Australia. 27 March 2005. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ↑ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El (2005-03-27). "8 MUERTOS AL CAER AVIÓN EN PROVIDENCIA" [8 DEAD ON FALLING AIRPLANE IN PROVIDENCIA]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2018-10-05.
- ↑ "Accidente de West Caribbean sólo se esclarecerá en tres meses" [The West Caribbean accident will only be clarified in three months]. Portafolio (in Spanish): 3. March 29, 2005. ProQuest 333479458.
External links
- Final report - Aerocivil (in Spanish) (Archive)
- Preliminary report - Aerocivil (in Spanish)