Cessna 402 accident near Nassau, Bs, October 5, 2010
On October 5, 2010 at about 4:36 pm local time, a Cessna 402, registered C6NLH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Nassau (Lynden Pindling International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under non-U.S. private rules. 9 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2010 · about 4:36 pm local time
- Place
- Nassau, Bahamas · Lynden Pindling International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 9 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 402 C · all 402s on the register
- Registration
- C6NLH · no longer on the register · serial 402C0458
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 5, 2010, about 1236 Atlantic standard time, a Cessna 402C, Bahamian registration C6-NLH, registered to and operated by Lebocruise Air Limited, crashed into Lake Killarney shortly after takeoff from the Lynden Pindling International Airport (MYNN), Nassau, Bahamas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed for the non-U.S., non-commercial flight from MYNN to the San Salvador Airport (MYSM), Cockburn Town, Bahamas. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the certificated commercial pilot, co-pilot, and 7 passengers were killed. The flight originated about 1233, from MYNN. The pilot was cleared to takeoff from runway 14, and according to the pilot of an airplane who was behind the accident airplane waiting to takeoff, white colored smoke was observed trailing the left engine during takeoff. The tower controller reportedly informed the accident pilot of the smoke and the accident pilot stated to the controller he needed to return to the airport and requested runway 27. While returning to the airport, a pilot-rated witness reported seeing the airplane in a “hard over” bank to the left followed by the airplane pitching nose down. The airplane crashed into the lake approximately 1,000 feet abeam the approach threshold of runway 32. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Government of the Bahamas. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Manager of Flight Standards Inspectorate, Bahamas P.O. Box AP 59244 Nassau, N.P. Bahamas Phone: (242) 377-3445/3448 Facsimile: (242) 377-6060 This report is for information purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained for the Bahamian Government.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 6,850 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-VB (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Lebocruise Air Limited
The flight
- Departed from: MYNN Nassau at 4:33 pm
- Destination: MYSM Cockburn Town
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 14, 11,353 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 81°F (27°C)
- Altimeter: 29.88 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from MYNN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.