2021 Punta Caucedo Gulfstream G-IVSP crash
{{Short description|2021 aviation accident in Santo Domingo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Expand Spanish|Accidente del Gulfstream IV de Helidosa|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft occurrence
| name = 2021 Punta Caucedo Gulfstream G-IVSP crash
| image = Helidosa Aviation Group Gulfstream IV-SP HI1050 (cropped).jpg
| image_upright = 1.15
| caption = HI1050, the aircraft involved in the accident
| occurrence_type = Accident
| coordinates =
| date = {{start date|df=y|2021|12|15}}
| summary = Crashed shortly after takeoff, under investigation
| site = Las Américas International Airport, Punta Caucedo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
| aircraft_type = Gulfstream G-IVSP
| operator = Helidosa Aviation Group
| tail_number = HI1050
| origin = La Isabela International Airport, Dominican Republic
| stopover = Orlando International Airport, United States
| destination = Appleton International Airport, United States
| occupants = 9
| passengers = 6
| crew = 3
| fatalities = 9
| survivors = 0
}}
The 2021 Punta Caucedo Gulfstream G-IVSP crash occurred on 15 December 2021, involving a private flight operated by the Dominican company Helidosa Aviation Group. The aircraft departed from Joaquin Balaguer International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, bound for Orlando International Airport, Florida, United States.{{cite news |title=All aboard plane killed after crash at Santo Domingo airport |url=https://www.telemundo47.com/noticias/mundo/se-accidenta-avion-con-nueve-personas-a-bordo-en-el-aeropuerto-internacional-de-santo-domingo/2241653/ |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=Telemundo47 |date=15 December 2021}} Approximately 16 minutes after takeoff, it crashed near Las Américas International Airport, Punta Caucedo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. All nine occupants aboard—three crew members and six passengers—were killed, including Puerto Rican music producer José Ángel Hernández, professionally known as Flow La Movie.{{cite web|url=https://www.hola.com/us/celebrities/20211215307492/music-producer-flow-la-movie-among-9-dead-in-dominican-republic-plane-crash/|title=Flow La Movie and his family among 9 dead in Dominican Republic plane crash, the Latin artist was 38|work=Hola|date=15 December 2021}}{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=2021-12-16|title=Flow La Movie's Death Mourned by J Balvin, Juan Magan & More|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/flow-la-movie-dead-artist-reactions-1235011269/ |access-date=2021-12-16|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}{{cite news |last1=Hasbun |first1=Jessica |title=Music producer ‘Flow La Movie’ among 9 killed in Dominican Republic private jet crash |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/15/americas/dominican-republic-plane-crash-intl/index.html |access-date=29 April 2025 |work=CNN |date=16 December 2021}}
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a Gulfstream G-IVSP, manufactured in 2002 with serial number 1482. This model typically accommodates between 14 and 19 passengers.{{cite web |title=Aircraft HI1050 Data |url=https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/HI1050.html |website=Airport Data |access-date=28 May 2025}}
Accident
According to data from Flightradar24, on December 15, 2021, a Gulfstream IV registered as HI1050, departed Joaquín Balaguer International Airport in norther Santo Domingo at 17:08 local time (21:08 UTC), en route to Orlando, Florida.
According to preliminary reports, during the initial climb and while making a left turn, the pilot reported an unspecified issue and requested an emergency diversion to Las Américas International Airport. After completing a full 360-degree turn at approximately 1,600 feet, the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 1,825 feet, continuing briefly over the sea near the coast before attempting alignment with runway 35 from the left. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft crashed on the airport grounds, igniting a fire that destroyed the wreckage and resulted in the immediate deaths of all nine occupants.{{cite web |title=Flightradar24 |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/hi1050 |access-date=29 May 2025}} There were no survivors.{{Cite web |title=ASN Aircraft accident Gulfstream G-IVSP HI1050 Santo Domingo-Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) |url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20211215-0 |access-date=2024-01-01 |website=aviation-safety.net}}
The accident caused the closure of Las Americas airport for just over two hours, forcing the cancellation of one flight, the diversion of nine passenger flights and one cargo flight and delays in the take-off of nine other flights, according to several media reports.{{cite news |title=All the people on board the plane that crashed at Santo Domingo airport die |url=https://www.telemundo47.com/noticias/mundo/se-accidenta-avion-con-nueve-personas-a-bordo-en-el-aeropuerto-internacional-de-santo-domingo/2241653/ |access-date=29 May 2025 |publisher=Telemundo |date=Dec 15, 2021}}
Investigation
The investigation into the December 15, 2021 crash of a Gulfstream GIV-SP operated by Helidosa Aviation Group revealed that the primary cause was a maintenance error in which hydraulic lines for the right-wing ground spoiler actuators were incorrectly connected, resulting in asymmetrical spoiler deployment during flight. This malfunction created severe aerodynamic instability, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable, particularly during the critical low-speed approach phase of an emergency landing. Despite the crew's efforts to manage the situation and safely land the aircraft, the imbalance caused a loss of control, leading to the fatal crash. Contributing factors included inadequate maintenance procedures and potential distractions from repeated communications with ground staff during the emergency. To address the root cause, the aircraft manufacturer implemented design modifications to the hydraulic connections to prevent similar errors and issued procedural recommendations to improve maintenance practices.
References
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External links
[https://elveedordigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Informe-Preliminar-CIAA-108-21-HI-1050.pdf CIAA Preliminary report (PDF)]
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021}}
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Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 2021
Category:2021 in the Dominican Republic
Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in the Dominican Republic