By Youri Kemp From Caribbean News Now

NASSAU, Bahamas — A small plane crashed on the island of Eleuthera in The Bahamas on Tuesday, killing three American men.

The plane, which authorities have identified as a private Cessna 421, took off from the Rock Sound Airport shortly before 4pm on Tuesday, en route to Ft Pierce, Florida, and crashed moments after take-off.

The accident was reported at 5:00pm that afternoon, after a BahamasAir plane flying over the crash site called into the authorities to notify them of a downed-plane.

The aircraft reportedly crashed in wooded and undeveloped island terrain, making it difficult for authorities to reach or be able to see or be aware of from the Rock Sound Airport.

Authorities made it to the site at approximately 5:30 pm, along with other residents on the island, where they discovered that the three men were already dead, with two of them burnt beyond recognition. The aircraft had reportedly burst into flames upon crashing.

According to Bahamas Air Accident Investigation Department (AAID) chief investigator, Delvin Major, the bodies of the victims have been flown to Nassau for autopsies.

“The accident investigators arrived in Eleuthera this morning to conduct the investigation they will be joined by representatives of the aircraft and the engine manufacturers tomorrow where the documentation and analysis will be conducted in an attempt to determine the cause of the accident,” Major told Caribbean News Nowon Wednesday.

The aircraft, flown by a legally certified private pilot, arrived in Rock Sound on Monday.

In January, an accident involving a private plane that crashed just off North Andros killed six, including the unqualified pilot, prompted extensive debate locally about longstanding and ongoing breaches in protocol at various airports and regulatory departments in The Bahamas.

For more on this story go to: https://wp.caribbeannewsnow.com/2018/06/06/another-fatal-small-plane-crash-in-the-bahamas-three-americans-dead/