|
|
|
ALM 980 departs JFK
11:14 |
|
Passing Ginny intersection crew requests
deviation for weather and lower altitude.
13:25 |
|
|
|
ALM 980
contacts Juliana Tower for weather. They are given Estimated 1,000 BKN,
5,000 OVC, VIS 2 to 3 nm in rain showers.
14:28 |
|
San Juan
advises ALM 980 that St. Maarten is below minimums. They level off at
21,000 and ask for a heading to San Juan.
14:45 |
|
San Juan advises ALM 980 that the St.
Maarten tower operator would like to talk to them on 118.7.
14:47 |
|
St. Maarten
tower clears ALM 980 for the NDB approach. Weather is given as winds
06015G20, ALT 2990, visibility 2 to 3 miles in rain showers.
15:03 |
|
|
|
After two more
attempts at landing, Balsey makes the following call: “Juliana, 980, we
would like to have an immediate and direct route to St. Thomas.”
15:29 |
|
ALM 980 cleared to 12,000 feet.
15:34 |
|
Approaching 7,000 feet the
right fuel inlet pressure light comes on. Balsey calls Purser Wilfred
Spencer into the cockpit.
15:37 |
|
"Okay,
there is a possibility I may have to ditch this aircraft. I am now
descending to the water.”
15:39 |
|
Radar contact lost.
15:48 |
|
Click here to go to the ditching and rescue timeline. |
| |
11:02
ALM 980
departs the ramp |
|
|
|
14:02
Passes Grant intersection. Descends to FL 250 and slows to .72 mach. A
time check indicates the flight is 17 minutes behind flight plan. |
|
14:24
Passes
Guava intersection. Fuel is 8,000 lbs. Crew estimates landing at St.
Maarten at 15:00 with 6,000 lbs. They are 20 minutes behind flight plan.
|
|
14:38
ALM 980 cleared direct to St. Maarten and given descent
from FL 250 to 10,000 feet |
|
|
|
14:51
After talking with the St. Maarten tower controller, the
crew requests clearance back to St. Maarten. |
|
15:15
ALM 980 arrives over the NDB to begin the
approach. |
|
15:19
"Nine eighty missed your runway going around." Balsey
elects to circle the runway to the north. |
|
15:32
ALM 980 contacts San Juan Center at 4,000 feet and is
advised of conflicting traffic. |
|
15:36
Crew requests direct heading to St. Croix which is closer. |
|
15:38
Wilfred Spencer is told to brief the passengers. |
|
15:47
“980
roger...ah...we’re ditching” |
|
15:49
ALM 980 ditches. Approximate
location 17:53N 64:14W |
|
