Miscalculation forced plane to crash land

Nov 26, 2011 News

Miscalculation on the part of the pilot was cited as one of the main reasons,that led to a

A damaged section of the plane

single engine plane crash landing at Moor Farm, Wakenaam Island, Wednesday morning leaving some damage to the aircraft but fortunately no injuries.
An experienced aviator told this publication that the American-registered aircraft had run out of fuel due to heavy winds and miscalculation. He said that the pilot had calculated for winds blowing north-northeast at 10 knots when in actuality the winds were moving from southeast between 15 and 20 knots.
This, he said, resulted in additional resistance to the plane thus causing a slower pace which led to the depletion of fuel.
Two persons, including the pilot, an American, were on board the two-seater plane at the time. The co-pilot was a Brazilian.
According to local Aviator, Gerry Gouveia, the Cessna 150, which departed Trinidad earlier in the day, was en route to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport when it reportedly ran out of fuel causing it to crash into the rice field on the Essequibo Island.
Reports suggest that the only real fear that the pilot of the plane had was when he

Residents flock the grounded plane

exited the craft and was confronted by a man with a cutlass. There was however no altercation. The man was in the field and was the first to reach the crash site.
The commotion sent residents rushing to the scene. According to one resident he was attracted by the sound of the engine and saw the plane flying low over the uncultivated rice lands owned by Joe Amrood, about a mile from the main public road. He realized that the aircraft was experiencing difficulty and since there was no place to land in that area he raised an alarm.
The area where the aircraft crash landed is about half a mile west of the Eastern end of the Wakenaam airstrip.
At the scene only one of the occupants of the plane was present. The other had reportedly gone to seek assistance. The man who remained in the plane did not speak English fluently and indicated to residents, who had gathered by then, that the plane had run out of fuel and this caused the mishap. He also said that they were coming from Trinidad. It was very obvious that the pilot and his companion were unaware of the area in which the plane was downed.
The propeller at the nose of the single engine aircraft was bent inwards and the stanchion of the front wheel was bent backwards. Apart from this there was no other obvious damage.
When the police arrived they cleared the area of the curious residents and searched the aircraft but came up empty-handed.
Ranks from the Essequibo Coast Tactical Service Unit arrived and later a Guyana Defence Force helicopter brought in army ranks.
It was observed that several small planes circled the area while the police were conducting their investigation. The first plane circled the area about 11:00 hours.
Local aviators were all alerted to the crash as was the control tower at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
About 15:00 hours the two men were taken by police to the Essequibo Coast while the plane was left at the scene. The police collected passports from the men and a slip of paper bearing some information was seen by this newspaper which gave an emergency number as 954-708-7289. There was also a flight plan.

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