NTSB Identification: DCA00MA052 .

Nonscheduled 14 CFR 135 operation of EAST COAST AVIATION SERVICES

(D.B.A. EXECUTIVE AIRLINES)

Accident occurred May-21-00 at BEAR CREEK TSHP, PA

Aircraft: British Aerospace JETSTREAM 31, registration: N16EJ, Injuries: 19 Fatal.

Preliminary Report

At approximately 1128 Eastern Daylight Time on May 21, 2000, an East Coast Aviation Services (doing business as Executive Airlines) British Aerospace Jetstream 3101 crashed at Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania, approximately 11 miles south of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and post-impact fire, and the 17 passengers and 2 flightcrew members were fatally injured. The flight was being conducted under Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand charter. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the flight from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to AVP, and instrument meteorological conditions existed at the time of the accident.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors.
Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.