On the 18th of April pilot Gary Schmidt was bringing his dept of justice aircraft over to St Thomas from St Croix. He was transporting four juvenile detainees and two corrections officers from St. Croix to St. Thomas aboard a Piper Navajo when the plane's twin engines lost power.
Schmidt, a Bureau of Corrections pilot for 10 years, said he alerted air control towers in
San Juan and
St. Thomas while losing a
ltitude. He then reduced speed to less than 90 mph and eased the plane into the sea near
Saba Island, about a mile south of
Cyril E. King Airport. "I just tried to keep the airplane flying and it didn't want to, so I had to put it in the water," Schmidt said. "I just wanted to make sure it didn't capsize." The detainees, boys between the ages of 13 and 16, were given life vests and their handcuffs removed before the crash.
All seven people escaped into a yellow inflatable raft and were soon found by a dive boat in the area. Thankfully the worst injuries were bumps and bruises
The aircraft sank to the bottom and lies in 85ft of water upside down largely intact. She is already becoming a home for marine life and makes a great dive for suitably qualified divers. The handcuff chains dangle from the upturned aircraft as a reminder of her previous life.
To read the accident report follow the link below.
NTSB Identification: MIA06TA093
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Tuesday, April 18, 2006 in St. Thomas, VI
Aircraft: Piper PA-31-310, registration: N554DJ
Injuries: 7 Minor.
