Chalk's Seaplane Crash Blamed on Faulty Maintenance Program

The Dec. 2005 crash of a Grumman Turbo Mallard seaplane off Miami was caused by the failure and separation of the right wing, "which resulted from 1) the failure of Chalk's Ocean Airways' maintenance program to identify and properly repair fatigue cracks in the wing," and 2) the failure of FAA to detect and correct deficiencies in the operator's repair program, the National Transportation Safety Board determined Wednesday. The accident during a scheduled flight to the Bahamas killed 18 passengers and two crewmembers when the plane crashed into the shipping channel adjacent to the Port of Miami. "This accident tragically illustrates a gap in the safety net with regard to older airplanes," said NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker. "The signs of structural problems were there, but not addressed. And to ignore continuing problems is to court disaster," he said in a press release. -- Frank Jackman