AAIB investigation to Cessna 150M, N66778
Loss of control after takeoff, Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Beef Island, Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI), 18 July 2018.
Summary:
N66778 was taking off from Beef Island, in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), on the sixth sector of a delivery trip from Florida to Argentina. After takeoff the aircraft was seen to fly along the length of the runway at slow speed in a nose-high attitude. It then turned left before entering a steep nose dive and hitting the sea.
The investigation concluded that the aircraft stalled during the left turn. No evidence of any mechanical failure was found.
The aircraft was likely to have been operating slightly above the Maximum Takeoff Weight and with the centre of gravity aft of the approved limit. Several items were not secured in the cabin which could have shifted aft during the takeoff roll moving the centre of gravity further aft. It is possible that this aft centre of gravity caused control difficulties resulting in the stall. Improvements in emergency communications on BVI have been made following the accident.
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