Also see: Plane crash wreckage found

 

(Eleuthera, Bahamas) – Police on Friday afternoon, October 24th, 2014,  at about 4pm were alerted to the presence of a dead body on the seashore of James’ Cistern in the vicinity of the Eleuthera Bible Center, strapped in an aircraft seat. EMS responded to the scene where the male was pronounced dead by the local doctor.

The body was that of a Caucasian male, who was later identified as being an American pilot of a private Cessna 402 aircraft (registration: N-310WL) that had crashed. The man, a Mr. Coy Austin, was also a home-owner and resident of Wykee Estates, Eleuthera and reported to be a retired ex-military pilot who had been associated with the island for more than 40 years.

Officials indicate that the plane approached Governor’s Harbour Airport (GHB) sometime around 8:30am and attempted to land, but encountered poor visibility and bad weather. The local Air Traffic Controllers reportedly directed him to the North Eleuthera Airport, however the control tower eventually lost communication with the aircraft some time later.

What is unclear at this time is what happened after the Tower lost contact with the plane. We  have from reliable sources, that Police on Eleuthera were only made aware of this pilot and his plane, after his body washed ashore in James Cistern later that afternoon, about 8 hours after his attempt to land at Governor’s Harbour. 

Other sources indicated that weather in North Eleuthera on Friday morning was no better at the time of the landing attempt, and other aircraft reportedly landed at GHB that morning with no incident.

Police on Friday night flew the body of the deceased to New Providence where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death. The Bahamas Flight Standard Inspectorate will continue investigations into the cause of the crash.