The Learjet 35A that crashed near Freeport Bahamas on November 9 was operating as a charter flight when, during an instrument approach to Runway 06 at Grand Bahamas International Airport, the aircraft clipped a crane and hit the ground. All nine people aboard the airplane received fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.

In its preliminary report, the Air Accident Investigation & Prevention Unit of the Bahamas said the airplane had departed Nassau-Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) on an IFR flight plan for the 24-minute flight to Freeport. The crew received the current weather and was cleared for the ILS Z 06 approach. The charts show two cranes at 368 and 369 feet msl just past the outer marker inbound at 4 DME.

The crew missed the first approach due to heavy rain and reduced visibility. The aircraft then entered the published holding pattern at 2,000 feet. Once ATC reported an improvement to the weather, the crew began a second ILS Z 06 approach. Rain began again during the second approach and while the crew attempted to find the runway visually, the aircraft descended and subsequently struck two support beams on a shipyard crane at approximately 115 feet msl. Minimum descent altitude (MDA) for the approach is 256 ft msl.

The impact ripped through the outboard portion of the right wing and fuel tank.