Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R (Panther) in Guatemala City: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 2010 at 0855 LT
Type of aircraft:
Piper PA-31-310 Navajo
Operator:
Ocean City Comercial
Registration:
TG-LAP
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Guatemala City - San Salvador
MSN:
31-8012043
YOM:
1980
Location:
Guatemala City-La Aurora
Guatemala
Country:
Guatemala
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Guatemala City-La Aurora Airport at 0840LT on a flight to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, carrying two passengers and one pilot. About 4-5 minutes after takeoff, while climbing in IMC conditions, the pilot reported technical problems with the instruments and was cleared for an immediate return. Shortly later, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a meat packing plant located in the approach path. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces as well as the building. All three occupants as well as one people in the factory were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following the failure of the attitude indicator while climbing in IMC conditions.
Final Report:

Crash of a Cessna 414 Chancellor off San Andrés

Date & Time: Jul 26, 2008 at 1052 LT
Type of aircraft:
Cessna 414 Chancellor
Operator:
Juan García Martínez
Registration:
XB-JBD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
San Salvador – San Andrés – Barranquilla
MSN:
414-0253
YOM:
1971
Location:
San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
San Andrés, Providencia & Santa Catalina
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1196
Aircraft flight hours:
4480
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed San Salvador-Ilopango Airport on a private flight to Barranquilla with an intermediate stop in San Andrés Island, carrying one passenger and one pilot. On final approach to San Andrés-Gustavo Rojas Pinilla Airport runway 06, the left engine failed. The pilot increased power on the right engine but the aircraft continued to lose height. The pilot ditched the aircraft near the coast. Both occupants evacuated safely and were quickly rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine on final due to fuel exhaustion. It remained a total of 3 gallons of fuel in the left fuel tank and 23 gallons in the right main tank.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-118A Liftmaster in San Salvador: 37 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1986 at 0632 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-118 Liftmaster
Operator:
Registration:
FAS302
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Salvador - Panama
MSN:
44654
YOM:
1955
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
After takeoff from San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, while in initial climb, one of the four engine failed and caught fire. The airplane was unable to gain sufficient height and struck the slope of a mountain located about 3 km from the airport. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 37 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure and fire during initial climb for unknown reasons.

Crash of an IAI Arava 201 in San Salvador

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1977
Type of aircraft:
IAI Arava 201
Operator:
Registration:
FAS802
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
14
YOM:
1975
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed upon landing at Ilopango Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 off Punta de Amapala: 21 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1975 at 1930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
412
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Veracruz - San Salvador - Managua
Location:
Punta de Amapala
La Unión
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The airplane was completing a charter flight from Veracruz to Managua with an intermediate stop in San Salvador, carrying 18 Mexican actors. While descending to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport, the crew was forced to make a go-around and could not land due to poor weather conditions. The captain decided to divert to an airport located on the coast when few dozen minutes later, the airplane crashed into the Gulf of Fonseca, about 300 meters off Punta de Amapala. All 21 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after both engines failed due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in San Salvador

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FAS101
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying over the region of El Poy, the airplane was attacked by the pilot of a F4U-4 Corsair of the Honduran Air Force. The crew was able to return to San Salvador-Ilopango Airport but on touchdown, the airplane went out of control and came to rest by the runway. There were no casualties but the airplane was written off.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in San Salvador

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Aerovias Latino Americanas
Registration:
YS-30
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4461
YOM:
1942
Location:
San Salvador-Ilopango
San Salvador
Country:
Salvador
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit a train. On impact, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames short of runway threshold. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. No one was hurt in the train.
Subscribe to San Salvador-Ilopango