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

Date & Time: May 16, 1980
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
YN-BVL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30374
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bonanza
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
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-46A-40-CU Commando in Siuna: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1960 at 1439 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
AN-AIN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Siuna – Bonanza
MSN:
26945
YOM:
1944
Location:
Siuna
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
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 Stinson SM-6000B in Bonanza: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SM-6000
Operator:
Nicaragua Atlantic Coast Airways
Registration:
NC484Y
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Managua - Bonanza
MSN:
5020
YOM:
1931
Location:
Bonanza
Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte
Country:
Nicaragua
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Earl Willet Kingsley, sole on board, departed Managua Airport at 0700LT on a cargo flight to the mines of Bonanza. Approaching the destination, the three engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the jungle. As the airplane failed to arrive in Bonanza, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned as no trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was found. The wreckage was discovered in a wooded area near Bonanza in April 1948.
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