A preliminary investigation into the November 9 crash that killed Pastor Myles Munroe and eight others revealed that the pilot attempted to land the aircraft twice amid deteriorating weather conditions.
The report, released by the Air Accident Investigation and Prevention Unit (AAIPU), provides the first official glimpse into what led to the country's biggest aviation accident since nine men were killed in a crash in Lake Killarney in 2010.
According to the report, as the pilot attempted to find the runway visually, the aircraft struck a crane in the Grand Bahama Shipyard, lost a portion of the right wing and fuel tank and "continued its downward, uncontrolled descent" before it crashed into a mound of garbage.
When the aircraft crashed, it was only 1.9 miles away from Grand Bahama International Airport, according to investigator Delvin Major, who prepared the report.
"The aircraft was unable to land on its first attempt, due to heavy rain showers and reduced visibility," the report said.
"The crew executed a missed approach procedure and continued outbound and entered the published holding pattern at 2,000 feet.
"Some time after entering the holding pattern, Air Traffic Control (ATC) reported the weather as improving and thus a second... approach was requested by the crew and granted by ATC.
"During the return for the second instrument approach, ATC reported the weather as again deteriorating due to rain and haze.
"While attempting to find the runway visually during the second approach, the aircraft descended and subsequently struck a towering crane at the Grand Bahama Shipyard."
The report said the impact occurred with two support beams above the crane operator's cab.
"After losing the outboard portion of the right wing and fuel tank, as a result of the impact, the aircraft continued its downward, uncontrolled descent, crashing inverted into a mound of garbage at the City Services Limited, a garbage and metal recycling plant, which is located adjacent to the Grand Bahama Shipyard," the report said.
"The aircraft finally came to a stop after impact with a metal generator housing unit located at the recycling plant."
The report said the aircraft uploaded 160 gallons of fuel from Odyssey Aviation in New Providence prior to its departure.
Munroe was the founder and president of Bahamas Faith Ministries International (BFMI).
His wife, Pastor Ruth Munroe; BFMI Senior Vice President Dr. Richard Pinder; BFMI Youth Pastors Lavard and Radel Parks and their son, Johannan; American Diego De Santiago; and pilots Stanley Thurston and Frahkan Cooper were all killed in the crash.
The report noted that both pilots were licensed and certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration and both were in possession of valid first class medical certificates as required by regulations.
As for the forecast published by the Bahamas Meteorological Department on the day of the crash, meteorologists warned that "significant weather for all areas indicated a few scattered, scattered to occasional and broken clouds could be expected with ranges from 1,500 feet to tops above 18,000 feet," according to the report.
"Towering cumulus clouds and isolated showers with chances of isolated thundershowers were forecasted with reduced visibility and ceilings below 1,500 feet.
"The report indicated a possibility of heavy showers and moderate to severe turbulence in the vicinity of the towering cumulus clouds."
The AAIPU of the Bahamas Civil Aviation Department is conducting the investigation with assistance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the USA, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) USA and Bombardier, manufacturer of the aircraft.
The report also noted that the black box has been transported to the NTSB in Washington for a readout.
Aviation and Transport Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin said last week the investigation could take months to complete.

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