Britten-Norman BN-2A accident near Ceiba, Puerto Rico, September 28, 2014
On September 28, 2014 at about 1:00 pm local time, a 1984 Britten-Norman BN-2A, registered N906GD, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Ceiba, Puerto Rico (Jose Aponte de la Torre Airpor airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of consciousness during taxi for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2014 · about 1:00 pm local time · cases in 2014
- Place
- Ceiba, Puerto Rico · Jose Aponte de la Torre Airpor · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Britten-Norman BN-2A 26, built 1984 · all BN-2As on the register
- Registration
- N906GD · registry record · serial 3008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot was taxiing the airplane for takeoff for the on-demand air taxi commuter flight. The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway, he felt dizzy and lost consciousness. The airplane subsequently veered off the taxiway into a ditch with the engines were still running. The pilot shut down the engines and instructed the passengers to exit the airplane. The pilot reported that it was hot and that he hadn't eaten breakfast before the accident flight; however, neither of these things should have caused the pilot to lose consciousness without other health issues involved. A review of the pilot's medical history revealed no evidence that he was taking any medications or that he had visited health care providers for any medical issues. The reason that the pilot lost consciousness could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during taxi (to runway) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Other loss of consciousness › Pilot
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 230 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 14,000 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,926 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, September 9, 2014; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 7,688 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 8,390 hours total
- Operator: Air Charter Inc
The flight
- Departed from: TJRV Ceiba PR at 1:00 pm
- Destination: TJCP Isla de Culebra PR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7/25, 11,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from TJNR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on March 8, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N906GD on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Britten-Norman BN-2 54 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Britten-Norman 51 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 15 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Jose Aponte DE LA Torre Airport · nearest airport
- Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Puerto Rico 282 since 1982 · 33 in the last ten years
- Puerto Rico 493 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA14LA465.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.