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Crash of a Cessna 501 Citation I/SP in San Salvador
Date & Time:
Apr 24, 1995 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N120ES
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Salvador - San Salvador
MSN:
501-0041
YOM:
1977
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at San Salvador-Comalapa Airport. On approach to runway 25, the copilot informed the captain about a discrepancy between both altimeters. The crew elected to identify the problem and thus failed to focus his attention on the approach procedure. This caused the aircraft to lose altitude when it collided with trees located 2,500 feet short of runway and crashed on a road 1,200 feet short of runway. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crash of a Boeing 767-2S1ER in Guatemala City
Date & Time:
Apr 6, 1993 at 1827 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N767TA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Salvador – Guatemala City – Los Angeles
MSN:
23494
YOM:
1986
Flight number:
TA510
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
227
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
27558
Aircraft flight cycles:
14723
Circumstances:
The approach to Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport was completed in poor weather conditions with rain falls, a visibility of three miles below a 2,000 feet cloud ceiling. The crew was cleared to land on runway 19 with a tailwind component as the wind was from 030° at 8 knots. The aircraft landed 1,070 metres past the runway threshold (runway 19 is 2,763 metres long) at a speed that was 17 knots above Vref. The crew started the braking procedure and thrust reversers were deployed. At a distance of 300 metres from the runway end, the captain decided to veer off runway to the left. At a speed of 90 knots, the aircraft went through a perimeter fence, down an embankment and eventually came to rest into several houses. All 236 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Three people on the ground were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Poor approach planning and landing configuration on part of the flying crew. The following findings were reported:
- The aircraft was approaching runway 19 above the glide,
- The speed upon landing was 17 knots above Vref,
- The runway surface was wet and the braking coefficient was limited,
- The aircraft landed too far down a wet runway, reducing the landing distance available,
- The landing was completed with a tailwind component,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.
- The aircraft was approaching runway 19 above the glide,
- The speed upon landing was 17 knots above Vref,
- The runway surface was wet and the braking coefficient was limited,
- The aircraft landed too far down a wet runway, reducing the landing distance available,
- The landing was completed with a tailwind component,
- The crew failed to initiate a go-around procedure.
Crash of a Douglas DC-6A in Golden Meadow: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 20, 1988 at 1924 LT
Operator:
Registration:
N33VX
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Salvador - New Orleans
MSN:
44615
YOM:
1955
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
3500.00
Aircraft flight hours:
27978
Circumstances:
After abt 4.3 hours on an overwater flight, the crew reported they had 15 minutes of fuel remaining. Subsequently, 3 of 4 engines lost power from fuel exhaustion. During an emergency landing, the aircraft hit a levee and was extensively damaged. Most of the wreckage came to rest in a drainage canal. Bodies of the crew were recovered from the water on 7/22/88. During an investigation, no fuel was found in the fuel tanks and no fuel spill was evident. Records showed the aircraft had departed El Salvador with 7 hours of fuel. No reason for the loss of 2.7 hours of fuel was verified; but about 1 month after the accident, an employee of the operator reported finding an open drain valve in the wreckage, inside the #4 engine nacelle. A metallurgical examination indicated the valve had been in an open position for an extended time. No ground personnel saw fuel draining from the aircraft during start, taxi or takeoff. The crew had no control of the valve in flight. There was evidence the #1, #2 and #3 engines were not providing power during impact. All crossfeed valve controls were found in crossfeed positions. Ethanol was found in the pilot's and copilot's blood, but there was evidence that it was the resulted of postmortem changes.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: loss of engine power (total) - nonmechanical
Phase of operation: descent
Findings
1. 3 engines
2. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing
Findings
3. (f) light condition - dusk
4. (f) terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
5. (f) terrain condition - water
Phase of operation: descent
Findings
1. 3 engines
2. (c) fluid, fuel - exhaustion
----------
Occurrence #2: forced landing
Phase of operation: descent - emergency
----------
Occurrence #3: in flight collision with terrain/water
Phase of operation: landing
Findings
3. (f) light condition - dusk
4. (f) terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment
5. (f) terrain condition - water
Final Report:
Crash of a Douglas DC-6BF in Rubelsanto
Date & Time:
May 2, 1976
Operator:
Registration:
YS-35C
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
45323/954
YOM:
1958
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rubelsanto Airport, the four engine airplane was too low and struck the ground short of runway. The undercarriage were torn off on impact and the airplane crash landed on its belly. All three crew members escaped uninjured.
Crash of a Vickers 763D Viscount in Managua: 15 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 5, 1959 at 1335 LT
Operator:
Registration:
YS-09C
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Managua – Tegucigalpa – San Salvador – Guatemala City – Mexico City – New Orleans
MSN:
82
YOM:
1955
Flight number:
TA779
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 29 at Managua-Las Mercedes Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked left and crashed in flames in a field located 2,4 km from the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and 15 people were killed, among them two crew members. Four occupants survived the crash.
Probable cause:
In accordance with the documentation obtained and data collected during the inquiry, the Investigating Board reached the following conclusions. The accident was caused by the following factors:
- Failure of number 1 engine at the end of runway 29 during takeoff and before reaching V2 speed,
- The non-retraction of the landing gear immediately after the aircraft reached V2 speed,
- Failure of engine number 2 a few seconds later, during a climb with insufficient speed to maintain control which resulted in a forced turn to the left that became tighter and tighter; the aircraft finally rolled into an inverted position and hit a tree with its left wing. Several possible reasons for the failure of engines no.1 and 2 and the non-retraction of the landing gear were considered, however the Board found no substantiating evidence or proof in the various tests carried out on the aircraft's parts to support any one of them.
The Board was therefore, unable positively to attribute the accident to any mechanical or electrical failure or to any piloting error.
- Failure of number 1 engine at the end of runway 29 during takeoff and before reaching V2 speed,
- The non-retraction of the landing gear immediately after the aircraft reached V2 speed,
- Failure of engine number 2 a few seconds later, during a climb with insufficient speed to maintain control which resulted in a forced turn to the left that became tighter and tighter; the aircraft finally rolled into an inverted position and hit a tree with its left wing. Several possible reasons for the failure of engines no.1 and 2 and the non-retraction of the landing gear were considered, however the Board found no substantiating evidence or proof in the various tests carried out on the aircraft's parts to support any one of them.
The Board was therefore, unable positively to attribute the accident to any mechanical or electrical failure or to any piloting error.
Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in San Andrés: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Sep 8, 1953 at 1316 LT
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAR
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
San Pedro Sula – San Andrés
MSN:
13817/25262
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The flight which departed from San Pedro Sula Airport on an extra flight with cargo for the San Andrés Mine, took off at 1242LT. The load was properly distributed with the centre of gravity on take-off, within the authorized limits. At 1316LT, following the first and only attempt to land at San Andrés Aerodrome, the aircraft crashed into a nearby mountain approximately 5 kilometers from the aerodrome. Fire broke out on impact and the aircraft and cargo were completely destroyed. The three crew, who were the only parsons on board, were killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine when the pilot wished to obtain maximum power from both engines after a missed landing.
Final Report:
Crash of a Douglas DC-3 near San Felipe: 12 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 29, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
YV-C-AZU
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Caracas – San Felipe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While approaching San Felipe from the east in a limited visibility, the airplane hit the slope of the Cerro Grande located about 30 km from the San Felipe Airport. All 12 occupants were killed.
