Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S and Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S mid-air collision near Caribbean Sea, September 18, 1998
On September 18, 1998 at about 6:28 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S (N6305U) and Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S (N6302W), were involved in a mid-air collision near Caribbean Sea (Rafael Hernandez Airport). 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot-in-command of N6305U to maintain physical clearance from the other aircraft (N6302W). Contributing factors were the inadequate visual lookout of all four pilots involved.
The failure of the pilot-in-command of the other aircraft (N6305U) to maintain physical clearance from N6302W. Contributing factors were the inadequate visual lookout of all four pilots involved.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1998 · about 6:28 pm local time
- Place
- Caribbean Sea · Rafael Hernandez Airport
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S
- Registration
- N6305U · registry record · serial F-160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S
- Registration
- N6302W · no longer on the register · serial F-159
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two U.S. Customs Service airplanes collided in formation cruise flight while being evacuated from Borinquen, Puerto Rico, to Curacao, Dutch Antilles, due to an approaching hurricane. While in cruise flight at 6,500 ft. msl, N6305U maneuvered closer to the lead airplane, N6302W, to take some photographs. Several minutes later, N6305U's right side of the vertical stabilizer collided with the left side of the nose of N6302W. N6305U was ditched while on short final to an airstrip due to a lack of airplane controllability, while N6302W returned to Borinquen and landed without incident. Prior to departure, the crewmembers of both airplanes were directed to fly as a flight of two. Neither of the second-in-commands (SICs) of either airplane had any previous formation flying training, nor was it approved for the flight. Interviews with U.S. Customs personnel revealed that formation flight occurred, as did photographs taken from the SIC aboard N6305U during the accident flight. The U.S. Customs Service required two pilots to operate the airplane due to mission equipment installation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two U.S. Customs Service airplanes collided in formation cruise flight while being evacuated from Borinquen, Puerto Rico, to Curacao, Dutch Antilles, due to an approaching hurricane. While in cruise flight at 6,500 ft. msl, N6305U maneuvered closer to the lead airplane, N6302W, to take some photographs. Several minutes later, N6305U's right side of the vertical stabilizer collided with the left side of the nose of N6302W. N6305U was ditched while on short final to an airstrip due to a lack of airplane controllability, while N6302W returned to Borinquen and landed without incident. Prior to departure, the crewmembers of both airplanes were directed to fly as a flight of two. Neither of the second-in-commands (SICs) of either airplane had any previous formation flying training, nor was it approved for the flight. Interviews with U.S. Customs personnel revealed that formation flight occurred, as did photographs taken from the SIC aboard N6305U during the accident flight. The U.S. Customs Service required two pilots to operate the airplane due to mission equipment installation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,286 hours in all; 982 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,983 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 4, 1998; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-B17E (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BQN Borinquen PR at 5:30 pm
- Destination: NCC Curacao OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Government Aircraft Fact (Gaf) N22S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,908 hours in all; 1,430 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,126 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 10, 1998; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,100 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison 250-B17E (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BQN Borinquen PR at 5:30 pm
- Destination: NCC Curacao OF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 8, 11,701 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.