Mixed Signals - Alas Nacionales Flight 301 (Birgenair Flight 301)

Birgenair Flight 301 was a flight chartered by Turkish-managed Birgenair partner Alas Nacionales from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic to Frankfurt, Germany, via Gander, Canada, and Berlin, Germany. On February 6, 1996, the 757-200 operating the route crashed shortly after take-off from Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón International Airport. All 189 people on board died. The cause was pilot error after receiving incorrect airspeed information from one of the pitot tubes, which investigators believe was blocked by a wasp nest built inside it. The aircraft had been sitting unused for 20 days, and without pitot tube covers in place for the preceding 2 days before the crash.
Aircraft type: Boeing 757-225
Airline: Alas Nacionales on behalf of Birgenair
Crew:13
Passengers:176
Fatalities:189
Survivors:0
Reg:TC-GEN