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Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in Panama City

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YN-BVI
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
44117/461
YOM:
1954
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at Panama City-Tocumen Airport, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane slid on its nose for several dozen meters before coming to rest on runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Nose gear collapsed on landing for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Bonanza

Date & Time: May 16, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
YN-BVL
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30374
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Bonanza-San Pedro Airfield, the airplane was too low and struck a wooden pile located near the runway threshold. The airplane crash landed and came to rest on the runway. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando in Managua

Date & Time: Feb 25, 1976
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AOC
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
22343
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Managua

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1972
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AMR
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
175
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Managua Airport, while climbing, the left engine caught fire. The crew informed ground about his situation and was cleared to return for an emergency landing. Following a 'normal' approach, the airplane belly landed and slid for dozen meters before coming to rest onto the runway. There were no casualties while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Belly landed following an engine fire after takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando in Managua

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AKY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Managua – Miami
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Managua to Miami, carrying two pilots and a load of 25,000 pounds of coffee. Shortly after takeoff from Managua-Las Mercedes Airport, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in flames 5 km from the airport. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46C Commando in Managua: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1961 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AOE
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Managua – Miami
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
12135
Captain / Total hours on type:
5066.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Las Mercedes at 1100LT on an IFR flight to Miami, Florida. Its only occupants were the captain and copilot. Shortly after takeoff control difficulties were experienced. During an attempt to return to the airport, the aircraft stalled on final approach, went into a spin and crashed at an angle of 45° to 50° on its right wing. The aircraft immediately burst into flames, and the central section, fuselage and the portion of the wings which contained the fuel tanks, were destroyed. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was attributed to cargo displacement towards the rear of the aircraft during the take-off run or immediately after taking-off.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Siuna: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1960 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AIN
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Siuna – Bonanza
MSN:
26945
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Aircraft flight hours:
5650
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 2,400 meters past the runway end. A crew member and a passenger were killed while 16 other occupants were injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
During the investigation, when the port propeller was being dismantled it was discovered that the distributor valve was broken from the base of the junction with the engine crankshaft, the first threads having broken. The break appeared to be due to fatigue. From the evidence, the rupture of the distributor valve of the port propeller appears to have been the main cause of the accident, additional factors being unfavorable terrain, wind and altitude conditions.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on Mt Concepción: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1957 at 1118 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AEC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Managua – Bluefields – San Carlos – Managua
MSN:
12312
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight from Managua to Bluefields and San Carlos and then returning to Managua. It departed San Carlos for Managua at 1049LT carrying a crew of 3 and 13 passengers. This information was given directly by the captain over the aircraft's transmitters, as the radio station for point-to- point communication is in the town, some distance from the landing field. The aircraft made no further contact. It crashed into the side of Concepción Volcano at 1118LT at a height of 2,650 feet killing all occupants. The aircraft crashed while performing a sharp ascending left curve at an altitude of 2,650 feet (according to the reading of the operating altimeter found at the accident site) and on a magnetic heading of 1700, i. e. 127° off its original course of 297°, and 350 feet below its cruising level, reported by the pilot as 3 000 feet. Witnesses stated that the weather was clear and fog covered only the top of the volcano, from 3 200 feet to its summit. A number of persons saw the aircraft flying on its normal heading to Managua shortly before the accident. Had the weather been unfavorable the pilot could very well have taken the usual action of flying at an altitude above all obstructions on the route and would have reported such action.
Probable cause:
According to eyewitnesses, the aircraft made a left turn, i. e. towards the volcano, and there were indications of abnormal conditions when it banked sharply in descent then in rapid climb; this shows that some trouble arose in the operation of the controls, propellers or engines, which unexpectedly caused loss of control. It was impossible to ascertain the cause of this malfunctioning, owing to the condition of total destruction of the aircraft after impact and fire.
Final Report: