American R&B singer Aaliyah died along with eight others , including the pilot , two hairstylists , a makeup artist , a bodyguard , and three record label professionals , when a Cessna 402B registered N8097W , crashed shortly after takeoff on August 25 , 2001 around 6:50 pm local time , in Marsh Harbour , Abaco Islands , The Bahamas . The main cause of the crash was determined to be an improperly loaded aircraft , which was approximately 700 pounds over its maximum takeoff weight , and a center of gravity well aft of the envelope . Investigators discovered that the pilot , Luis Morales III , was unlicensed at the time of the crash and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system . Aaliyah 's family later filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Blackhawk International Airways , which was settled out of court
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Death of Aaliyah
Cessna 402