Douglas DC-3 accident near Isla Verde, Puerto Rico, March 1, 1989
On March 1, 1989 at about 8:14 pm local time, a Douglas DC-3, registered N28PR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Isla Verde, Puerto Rico (Luis Munozmarin airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE FLIGHT CREW TO FEATHER THE LEFT PROPELLER AND TRIM THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE LEFT ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 1989 · about 8:14 pm local time
- Place
- Isla Verde, Puerto Rico · Luis Munozmarin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3 · all DC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N28PR · registry record · serial 6323
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CREW OF AN ALL CARGO FLIGHT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE WHILE IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THEIR DESTINATION. THEY RAISED THE LANDING GEAR BUT FAILED TO FEATHER THE LEFT PROPELLER AND FAILED TO TRIM THE AIRCRAFT. THE RESULTING SKID AND INCREASED DRAG MADE FURTHER FLIGHT IMPOSSIBLE. THE CREW ELECTED TO DITCH THE AIRCRAFT IN A LAGOON ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE LAGOON AND THEREFORE IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHY THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,067 hours in all; 6,467 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 36,115 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 14, 1989; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-1820-G202 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Borinquen Air
The flight
- Departed from: SKPK St. Kitts CB at 6:50 pm
- Destination: SJU San Juan PR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:20 pm from SJU, 2 miles away
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.