Cessna 208B and Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 mid-air collision near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico, June 20, 2002
On June 20, 2002 at about 9:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 208B (N786DM) and Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 (N663VL), were involved in a mid-air collision near Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico (Antonio Rivera Rodriquez airport). No one was hurt; 16 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid, also causal was the failure of the pilot of the Britten-Norman Islander (N663VL) to yield right of way to an aircraft in the traffic pattern.
the failure of both pilots to see and avoid, also causal was the failure of the pilot of the Britten-Norman Islander (N663VL) to yield right of way to an aircraft in the traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 20, 2002 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Isla De Vieques, Puerto Rico · Antonio Rivera Rodriquez · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 16 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 208B · all 208Bs on the register
- Registration
- N786DM · registry record · serial 208B-0922
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 · all BN-2B-26s on the register
- Registration
- N663VL · registry record · serial 2110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 208B final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to both pilots, they had reported their positions on the Unicom frequency, and announced their intentions. The Cessna pilot said that he entered traffic on the downwind at 1,000 feet, and turned base to final. The Britten-Norman pilot said he turned left from base leg to final approach, but did not mention anything about a downwind leg. At 500 feet, both airplanes touched wing tips; the Cessna's damage was to the right wing and the Britten-Norman's damage was to the left wing. The Britten-Norman's pilot continued the approach and landed without further incident on runway 9. The Cessna's pilot initiated a go-around, for another approach, and landed without further incident on runway 9. The reported weather at San Juan (SJU), Puerto Rico, 34 miles northwest of the crash site, at 1656 was: 2,700 few, visibility 10 sm, winds 070 at 14 knots with gusts to 19 knots, temperature 84 degrees F, dew point 73 degrees F, and the altimeter was 30.01 inches Hg.
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 Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 final · quoted from the NTSB record
See brief narrative for MIA02lA119A.
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 Cessna 208B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,158 hours in all; 233 in the last 90 days; 61 in the last 30 days; 2,336 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 3, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 550.1 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, June 1, 2002; 53.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,785 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TJCP Culebra PR at 8:10 pm
- Destination: VQS Vieques
- Runway 090, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from KSJU, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 9 |
The factual record for the Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,681 hours in all; 803 in this make and model; 223 in the last 90 days; 76 in the last 30 days; 1,313 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme
- Maximum gross weight: 6,200 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X95 Fajardo PR at 8:00 pm
- Destination: VQS Isla De Vieques PR
- Runway 090, 3,400 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.